Taunton is set to become a key destination for padel lovers with an exciting new partnership between Queen’s College and Smash Padel. The collaboration will bring six state-of-the-art covered padel courts to the school’s grounds, marking the first of their kind in the area.
Announced on July 11, this development promises to make padel more accessible to everyone in the community by providing all-weather facilities open to the public throughout the year. Currently, Taunton has no dedicated padel courts, so this project fills a significant gap in local sports amenities.
Kim Dawkins, bursar at Queen’s College, expressed enthusiasm about the project: “The introduction of these six covered courts will be a game-changer for Taunton. With booming interest in padel nationwide, offering these modern facilities to both our students and the public will have a huge positive impact.”
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Smash Padel is renowned for its comprehensive coaching programs that cater to players at all skill levels. Their junior pathways and Performance Academy have been instrumental in growing grassroots participation and nurturing emerging talent across the UK.
Tom Bell, director of sport at Queen’s College, highlighted the partnership’s alignment with the school’s mission: “Smash Padel’s commitment to inclusive, high-quality coaching fits perfectly with our goal of making sport accessible to all. Pupils, from beginners to advanced players, will greatly benefit from having these courts right on campus, and we’re excited to integrate padel into our sport offerings.”
Smash Padel’s dedication to community development has earned them a Service Excellence Award from the Lawn Tennis Association, recognising their outstanding efforts in junior engagement and grassroots sport promotion.
Carson Russell, chief operating officer at Smash Padel, said: “Our values around inclusivity, coaching excellence, and community growth closely match those of Queen’s College. This partnership sets the stage for a long-lasting and impactful collaboration.”
Construction of the covered courts is underway and expected to be completed soon. The latest updates on progress will be available on the Smash Padel website.