The Northern

The Northern is a 144-year-old multi-sport racquets club at Palatine Road, West Didsbury, Manchester M20 3YA. The venue added two covered padel courts in December 2023, sitting near the M56 and M60 motorways.

The club is a short walk from West Didsbury Metrolink stop on the Manchester tram network, so Didsbury, Withington and Chorlton players can reach it without driving. Live court availability and member rates appear on the venue’s padel page and on Playtomic.

The padel courts sit alongside 21 tennis courts, six squash courts, two gyms, a fitness studio with 41 weekly classes, and a lounge bar and eatery. The Northern is one of the venues featured in Manchester’s LTA padel plan, the first city-level padel partnership in the UK between the LTA, Manchester City Council and Manchester Active.

The padel courts

The venue runs two doubles padel courts with crystal glass walls and a permanent roof, so play continues through Manchester’s wet winters. The courts are floodlit for evening sessions and are listed on Playtomic as roofed double crystal courts.

The opening ceremony was led by Stockport-born ATP player Liam Broady on the Saturday following the December 2023 unveiling. The padel build was supported by an LTA loan, with the club committed to opening court time to both members and the wider Didsbury community.

The courts use Spanish-spec crystal panels typical of LTA-funded UK installs, with mesh fencing on the back walls and rebound glass at the front. Court dimensions follow the standard 20 by 10 metre doubles layout.

Booking and access

Bookings run through Playtomic in 60 or 90 minute slots. Off-peak rates show at £4.50 per person (£18 per court) for full members and £10 per person (£40 per court) for non-members. Peak non-member slots are £12 per person (£48 per court).

Members can reserve up to seven days ahead and non-members up to four days. Racket hire is £3, balls are stocked from £6, and rackets are sold from £67.99 at reception. Padel courts are open 09:00 to 22:00 Monday to Saturday and 09:00 to 20:00 on Sunday.

Reception is reachable on 0161 445 3093 or by email at reception@thenorthern.co.uk, with WhatsApp enquiries at +44 7564 825025. On-site parking is available, and the West Didsbury Metrolink stop is a few minutes’ walk for car-free arrivals.

Padel programme and social

Padel sits inside a wider racquets calendar that includes club tennis nights, squash leagues and gym timetables. Corporate padel packages are available for businesses wanting to combine tennis and padel for an event, with a brochure on request through reception.

The clubhouse lounge bar and kitchen are open to players before and after sessions, giving a sit-down option after a doubles match. Junior racquets programmes run year-round, with padel slots being added as community demand grows.

Mix-in style social padel evenings are scheduled periodically through the racquets office, and reception keeps a contact list for players looking to be matched into a fourth for doubles. Adult coaching is arranged in-house and tailored to the player’s level.

Best for padel in Manchester

The Northern suits South Manchester padel players who want covered courts without a warehouse-park drive, especially those on a Metrolink commute or living in Didsbury, Withington or Chorlton. The off-peak member rate of £4.50 per person is among the lowest in Greater Manchester.

It is less suited to players who only want padel, since this is a full racquets and fitness club rather than a padel-only centre. Peak weekend slots fill quickly with only two courts, so book several days ahead through Playtomic.

Beginners benefit from the lower-pressure setup of a covered, well-lit court and reception staff who can advise on racket hire, ball purchase or padel-friendly trainers. Returning regulars enjoy the social wrap-around of a kitchen and bar that stays open after evening matches in M20.

Looking for more padel options nearby? See Club de Padel - Manchester and Manchester Padel Club (Heald Green).

To compare The Northern with other venues, see all the padel courts in Manchester listed on padeli. If you want a recommendation, our best padel courts in Manchester guide compares the top picks.

The Northern runs in-house racquets coaching across tennis, squash and padel, with padel sessions arranged through reception. Coach assignments and pricing tiers are confirmed at booking.