How padel courts became a must-have for upscale hotels and members’ clubsPadel is part of the offering at Crafted at Powdermills (Pic: Euan Baker)Professional padel is having its moment in the London sun this week as the capital plays host to an event on the top-tier Premier Padel tour for the first time. So much so that padel courts are rapidly replacing tennis courts and golf courses as the sports facilities of choice for high-end hotels and members’ clubs across the country. “I wanted to introduce the game to people here, and when I’ve been looking for places to birth Crafted I’m always looking where the padel courts go rather than where tennis courts go. I think it delivers a bit more joy on a pound for pound basis, and obviously from a real estate perspective, you can fit four padel courts on the size of two tennis courts.” “We’ve encouraged members who’ve maybe joined for the gym, studio, workspace, social life, sauna, lake and everything else – they’re now trying padel and falling in love with it,” says King.