Pure Padel Darlington

Pure Padel Darlington is a purpose-built indoor padel facility on Blackett Road, off Haughton Road, Darlington DL1 2BJ. Opened in May 2025, the venue occupies a converted 28,000 square foot retail unit at Haughton Retail Park. It is the only dedicated indoor padel club in Darlington and sits within easy reach of both Middlesbrough and Newcastle.

Founded by Sammy Arora and Fraser Higson, Pure Padel operates on a pay-and-play model with no membership fees. The Darlington club is managed by Andrew Scullion and forms part of a chain that includes Alderley Park, Manchester, Stockport, North Leeds, Nottingham and Lightwater. The brand plans to open 30 clubs across the UK within five years.

The courts

The club houses seven indoor panoramic glass padel courts. All courts feature premium surfaces imported from Spain, designed to deliver a consistent and high quality playing experience. The fully enclosed building provides a climate controlled environment for year round play regardless of the weather.

High specification lighting runs across each court, ensuring excellent visibility during both daytime and evening sessions. Every court is built to doubles standard with full panoramic glass walls, giving spectators clear sightlines from the surrounding social areas.

Courts are numbered one through seven, with Court 6 and Court 7 carrying sponsor names (RD Safety Services Court 6 and Seaton Leng Court 7 respectively). The panoramic design and Spanish construction place the facility among the best equipped padel venues in the North East of England.

Booking and access

All court bookings are handled through the Playtomic app, available on both iOS and Android. Players register a free account, search for Pure Padel Darlington, choose their preferred date and time slot, then pay online. The app supports split payments so each player can pay their own share.

Court hire ranges from around £26 to £40 per hour depending on the time slot. That works out at roughly £6.50 to £10 per person when split between four players. There are no membership fees and no long term commitment required. Racket and ball hire is available on site for those who do not have their own equipment.

Opening hours run Monday to Friday from 7:00 to 23:00 and Saturday to Sunday from 8:00 to 21:30. The venue can also be booked for private events and corporate functions, with access to the courts, business lounge and bar included in event packages.

Free on site parking is available at the retail park, making the club straightforward to reach by car. The facility was designed by architects Bowman Riley to be accessible, inclusive and future ready.

Programme and social

Pure Padel Darlington runs a coaching programme led by LTA licensed coaches. Sessions are available as private one to one lessons, paired coaching for two players, and group sessions for beginners through to advanced level. Coaching enquiries are handled directly through the club.

The venue hosts community leagues, social mix in sessions and organised tournaments. Academy activities are priced from £8 to £14 per person, while competition entry ranges from £10 to £15. These programmes are designed to help newcomers learn the sport and give experienced players regular competitive play.

Beyond the courts, the club features a bistro style bar and cafe serving food and drinks throughout the day. A heated sports lounge and separate business lounge with meeting rooms provide spaces for socialising, remote working or hosting clients. The pro shop stocks padel rackets, clothing and accessories.

Changing rooms with showers are available, and the venue offers free WiFi throughout. The facility was built with inclusivity in mind, welcoming players of all ages and abilities from complete beginners to experienced competitors.

Best for

Pure Padel Darlington suits players who want reliable indoor courts without the uncertainty of outdoor weather in the North East. The pay and play model makes it ideal for casual players, while the coaching programme and leagues cater to those looking to improve or compete regularly.

Groups of friends and colleagues will appreciate the social setup, with the bar and lounge areas turning a court booking into a full outing. Corporate teams can use the event packages and business lounge for team building days. Beginners benefit from the welcoming atmosphere, affordable academy sessions and on site racket hire removing the need to own equipment.

LTA licensed coaches deliver private, paired and group sessions for all levels from beginner to advanced across seven indoor courts.