Padel Shed Thirsk

Padel Shed Thirsk is North Yorkshire’s first dedicated padel venue, opened in 2026 by the Sowerby farming family at Cocked Hat Farm, Topcliffe Road, Thirsk YO7 3HF. The site sits on the edge of the Sowerby Gateway development, a short drive from Thirsk town centre and just off the A19/A168 corridor linking York and Teesside.

The A1(M) is about fifteen minutes west via the A61, putting Northallerton, Ripon, Easingwold and York all within a half-hour drive. Thirsk railway station - on the East Coast Main Line - is roughly two miles away, giving Leeds and Newcastle visitors a direct rail option.

The build is a conversion of a former potato shed - a working farm barn repurposed into a purpose-built padel facility with weather-proof play, free parking and step-free access. The family hopes to put Thirsk on the map as a North Yorkshire destination for casual play, coaching and social events. You can view the courts on Playtomic for live availability.

The padel courts

The Padel Shed houses two indoor courts inside the converted barn. Court 1 is a full doubles court with a glass back wall, and Court 2 is a singles court - also with a glass wall - giving the venue a mix that few rural sites in the UK currently offer.

Both courts are covered and floodlit, so play continues whatever the North Yorkshire weather is doing. The barn shell provides natural ventilation while keeping wind and rain off the synthetic-grass surface, and the layout means players move straight from car park to court without exposure to the elements.

Rackets and balls are available for hire on site, which is useful for newcomers turning up without kit and for visitors travelling light. The singles court is a genuine talking point for the region - most UK clubs only run doubles, so drillers and competitive singles players have a reason to seek the venue out.

Booking and access

All bookings run through Playtomic. You can book a court on Playtomic directly, or via the Playtomic app where the venue appears as Padel Shed Thirsk. Live rates show at the booking step and vary by court (doubles vs singles), time of day and duration.

Opening hours are 06:00 to 22:00 every day of the week, giving the venue one of the widest booking windows in the region. Early-bird slots before work and late evening sessions are both available, and weekend mornings tend to fill first. Standard Playtomic cancellation rules apply at the booking step, with refunds and credits handled inside the app.

Free private parking sits alongside the barn, with extra spaces across the Sowerby Gateway estate. Changing rooms are on site, and the building has disabled access with step-free entry from car park to courts. There is no pro shop on the premises - the focus is on simple, repeat-bookable padel.

Padel programme and social

Beyond pay-and-play slots, the family runs a programme of coaching sessions and social events designed to grow the local padel community. Group coaching, beginner intro sessions and mixed-ability social nights are part of the rolling calendar, with announcements pushed through Playtomic and the venue’s social channels.

The singles court doubles as a useful coaching tool, letting instructors run technical drills in pairs without tying up the full doubles court. Junior intros are part of the plan as the venue beds in, and tournament formats may follow as the player base grows across North Yorkshire.

Racket and ball hire is available for players who want to try the game before investing in kit, and the venue’s owners actively encourage newcomers to book a beginner slot rather than just an open court. Coaching tiers and pricing are confirmed at the booking step on Playtomic.

Best for

Best for: players across North Yorkshire who want covered, all-weather padel without travelling to Leeds or Newcastle; visitors to Thirsk, Northallerton or York looking for a casual game; coaches and small groups who value the singles court for drills; families wanting flexible early or late slots.

Less suited to: players seeking a large multi-court tournament venue, a full racquet-club gym and spa, or panoramic full-glass tournament courts. With two courts only, peak evening and weekend slots fill quickly, so book a week ahead for prime times. The venue’s strength is consistent, weather-proof access, not scale.

Padel Shed Thirsk offers in-house coaching covering beginner intros, group sessions and social mixers. Sessions run alongside the pay-and-play schedule and are announced through Playtomic and the venue's social channels.