Walking along St Anne's Road on a dreary morning, past endless industrial estates, the thought of coming to the area to socialise with your mates seems a bit improbable. Aside from the fantastic St Anne's House community and creative hub, there's not much to entice people who don't have specific business at one of the companies along this busy route, and you're not likely to see too many pedestrians strolling around.
That may soon change, though, as a vast new sports centre dedicated to the increasingly popular racket sport padel is opening its doors in a former depot just opposite St Anne's House on April 22. Grey and nondescript on the exterior but with plenty of parking, stepping inside Rocket Padel Bristol reveals an unexpectedly sleek and expansive space filled with 14 panoramic padel courts, as well as a shop to buy pro gear and a well-stocked bar and refreshment area.
Padel is a racket sport mainly played in doubles on an enclosed indoor court three-quarters the size of a tennis court which first originated in Mexico in the 1960s and uses the same scoring and similar rules to tennis. The sport has soared in popularity recently, particularly in Spain, with famous fans, including tennis stars Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, Roger Federer, Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, and footballer Lionel Messi.
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With an estimated 25 million regular players worldwide, its current vogue has been attributed to how simple it is to pick up one of the sport's chunky fibreglass rackets and quickly participate in fast-paced games. Chatting to an experienced player from south Wales who has come to Rocket Padel's grand opening for the chance to play against the GB team, the perks of padel include underarm serving and the fact that you spend less time chasing missed balls.
Watching the GB team leaping around, ricocheting balls off the walls, and occasionally firing shots so high they reach the 10m high ceiling, I'm not totally convinced this will be a sport an uncoordinated novice will quickly excel at. But keen to try it, I picked up a racket and headed out on the court.
The surface underfoot is a firm type of Astroturf covered in a thin layer of sand which makes for greater and more effective control of the ball and helps to prevent injuries and slips. Ball control, specifically deciding whether to return a shot after a single bounce or wait for a rebound, bring a tactical element to the game.
To begin with, my overzealous swing, which more than once resulted in flying balls disturbing those on neighbouring courts, proved problematic. But with a seemingly never-ending supply of balls and patience, my hitting partners helped me take a more controlled approach, quickly leading to extended rallies.
It may not have been the rapid-fire play of the professionals, but the steady pace, easily coverable court size and lack of losing balls (mostly) meant that I could put more of my energy into the game and enjoy it rather than apologising for missing the shot.
Another perk to the smaller courts is that it's easier to chat with your game mates, which according to Sebastian Gordon, the Swedish founder of Rocket Padel, makes it a very congenial sport. He said: "I've met many of my friends and business partners playing padel. That's why we have food and beverages too, and meeting rooms.
"This is the largest padel venue in the UK, with 14 courts, and you can imagine with people running, screaming, hitting balls, it could get very loud, so we invested a lot in acoustic panels and curtains so that people can still hear each other."
Open from 7am to 11pm, and with courts starting at around £20 per hour (plus racquet hire), it's an appealingly accessible way to spend an hour or two, whether you're making a business deal or just having a lark. And if you want to try it but can't convince anyone to join you, there's always Padel Mates, a Swedish-born app that not only lets you book at your nearest court but also offers a Tinder-type service where you can find fellow players of your skill level to play against.
It may be the biggest, but Rocket Padel is far from the only place to play the sport in the city, with the likes of Padel4All in Lockleaze, Surge Padel in Fishponds, and We Are Padel near Gaunts Ham Park all cropping up recently. However, Sebastian isn't worried about it. He said: "I think it's amazing; it's a lot better to open in Bristol with three other clubs because they're all run by good people, and we need more educators and for people to have a good experience and tell their friends. We all share the same vision about the sport."
While everything, from the changing rooms to the smoothie bar, looks smart and finished, Sebastian explained that part of the reason they chose the venue was the flexibility it offered them. He said: "We wanted to keep that industrial roughness; that's where we came from. Originally we were going to turf the floor (outside the courts), but when we cleaned up the concrete, we saw it looked really good, so now we're going to paint it, and I'm talking to some local artists perhaps to get some graffiti on the wall."
Although it's an international brand Sebastian stressed the importance of the centre establishing local links, including partnerships with brands such as the nearby brewery Lost and Grounded. He also said that with the large area behind the building, they might explore adding a couple of outdoor courts and a pop-up bar in the summer. With plenty of parking, a nearby bus stop, and accessibility via scooter from fellow Swedish brand Voi, I wouldn't be surprised if Bristolians are soon flocking to St Anne's for a spot of sporty socialising.
Rocket Padel is situated on St Annes Road, BS4 4EB and opens on Saturday, April 22, with various events and taster sessions available across the weekend.
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