Padel Project UK Darlington

Padel Project UK Darlington is a four-court outdoor padel facility at Darlington Rugby Football Club, Blackwell Meadows, Grange Road, Darlington DL1 5NR. The site sits just south of the town centre, a short drive from junction 57 of the A1(M) via the A66.

The club opened on 17 January 2025 as the fourth UK site from the Padel Project UK group, founded by James Ash and Tim Foster with Will to Win’s Steve Riley as president. Padel here joins rugby, football and archery in a community-led, multi-sport setting.

Padel at Padel Project UK Darlington is positioned as a low-friction, pay-and-play offer for County Durham and the wider Tees Valley, with no joining fee and no membership tier required to get on court.

The padel courts

The venue runs four full-size double padel courts (Padel 1 to Padel 4), all outdoor with crystal glass back and side walls. Each court uses standard 20 by 10 metre dimensions, with LED floodlights for evening play. There are no indoor courts on site.

The surface is artificial turf laid to Spanish panoramic spec, giving a consistent slow-medium bounce well suited to learners stepping up from tennis as well as established padel players. Wraparound crystal walls let spectators in the RFC grounds watch matches from outside the cage.

Booking and access

Courts run on a pay-and-play model with no membership required. Off-peak slots (weekdays 08:00 to 17:00) are £24 per court for 60 minutes, roughly £6 per person across a doubles four. Peak slots (weekdays 17:00 to 22:00 and weekends 08:00 to 22:00) are £28 per court per hour, about £7 per person.

All bookings go through Playtomic - reserve directly at book a court on Playtomic or via the Playtomic app. Racket hire is £4 per hour and balls are available to buy on site.

The club operates 08:00 to 22:00 every day, including bank holidays. Free parking is available at the RFC, and the courts have step-free wheelchair access with accessible toilets when the clubhouse is open. Lockers and WiFi are available on site.

For booking help, court hire or group enquiries, contact club manager Ashleigh on 07710 813 394 or email ashleigh@padelprojectuk.com. WhatsApp is the fastest route on 07418 939175 for same-day questions.

Padel programme and social

The Darlington site runs the group-wide Beginner Pathway - three coached sessions for £15 total (£5 each) - which takes complete newcomers from a first hit to confident rallying. It is the recommended entry point for anyone new to padel.

Open mix-in social sessions and Americano-format tournaments run through the week, with the live schedule published on the Padel Project UK sessions page. Format levels are pitched at beginner, improver and intermediate players so newcomers are not paired with regulars.

Junior coaching, holiday camps and a 5-plus age policy mean families can play together. The venue also books group sessions for local schools, sports clubs and community groups. Coaching is delivered in-house through the Padel Project Academy - see the coaching tab for full pricing.

Best for padel in Darlington

Best for: County Durham and Tees Valley players who want low-friction pay-and-play padel without a membership commitment, juniors and families thanks to the 5-plus minimum age and structured beginner pathway, and existing Darlington RFC rugby and football members who want a second sport in the same grounds.

Less ideal for: players who prefer fully enclosed indoor courts during heavy winter weather, since all four courts are outdoor. Panoramic glass and floodlights soften the conditions but cannot replace a roof.

Players seeking a full bar and restaurant on site should also note that food and drink at the venue are limited to the RFC clubhouse during its own opening hours, rather than a dedicated padel-club cafe.

Padel Project UK Darlington is one of the venues on our padel clubs in Darlington page, where you can compare courts, prices and how to book.

Coaching at Padel Project UK Darlington is delivered in-house through the Padel Project Academy, led by club manager and coach Ashleigh, with adult beginner pathways, junior coaching, group lessons and holiday camps run on the four outdoor courts.