Victory Ground Tennis Club Padel Threat in Bury St Edmunds

Court Rent vs. Rivalry

Victory Ground Tennis Club pays £4,000 a year to lease two courts at the Victory Sports Ground Complex in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. Membership secretary Steve Daniel, 52, said the club had been informed that a padel company wanted the site and could offer far more for the space. The club, one of just two in the town, has rebuilt its numbers since the pandemic and now serves about 170 members. Daniel revealed the club offered to double its rent, citing increased revenue from growing membership.

However, the padel rent hike being discussed would represent a 500% increase over the current £4,000 fee, a figure the club says it simply cannot meet. Victory Sports Ground CIC, which manages the facility, confirmed that talks with other prospective users had taken place but that no final decisions had been made. The uncertainty leaves the tennis club in a precarious position, fearing it could be forced out.

The club’s financial strain underscores a broader tension between traditional racket sports and the commercial appeal of padel. While tennis relies on long‑standing community clubs, padel’s business model often promises higher revenue per court, making it attractive to venue operators.

The Rise of Padel Across the UK

Padel is currently one of the fastest‑growing sports in the world and is a blend of tennis and squash. Research from the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) last year shows 860,000 adults and juniors in the country now play the sport, more than double the previous year. In contrast, adult tennis participation grew by 44% to around 5.6 million people over the five years from 2019‑2023, with children’s annual participation reaching 3.6 million.

The rapid expansion of padel has attracted investors seeking to capitalize on its popularity, often outbidding legacy tennis clubs for court space. This trend is reshaping how sports facilities are allocated in many British towns, including rural areas like Suffolk.

Existing Padel Venues in the Region

For those who want to play padel in the area, there are courts at Risbygate Sports Club, where there is also tennis, and the Padel Shed in Whepstead. The David Lloyd gym similarly has padel courts for its members. These alternatives already provide local players with a range of options beyond traditional tennis.

• Risbygate Sports Club – tennis and padel courts
• The Padel Shed – dedicated padel facility in Whepstead
• David Lloyd gym – padel courts for members

Victory Sports Ground History and Current Talks

Victory Sports Ground was initially purchased by a director of Greene King Brewery in celebration of his children all surviving World War One. In 1975, the ground was sold to the former St Edmundsbury Borough Council before Victory Sports Ground CIC, which operates as a not‑for‑profit, bought the freehold in 2013. Today, the organization is navigating competing interests.

Paul Whittaker, from the ground, disputed that the tennis club had returned to the negotiating table offering to pay double the rent for its two courts. He did confirm, however, that the organisation had been contacted by a padel company and a five‑a‑side football team interested in potentially using the area. The lack of a definitive decision leaves both tennis enthusiasts and padel supporters in suspense.

Community Impact of a Possible Padel Takeover

“We do not want to get rid of tennis, but we are trying to increase participation numbers and get maximum use out of the facilities,” he said. The ground’s leadership argues that padel and five‑a‑side football could better fill the space and attract higher usage rates. Yet the loss of the tennis club would remove a key community hub for a town already limited to just two clubs.

If the padel operator moves forward, the financial boost could enable the ground to upgrade amenities for all users, but it also signals a shift away from traditional racket sports. Residents will need to consider how this change aligns with local sporting preferences and long‑term community health goals.

The coming months will likely reveal whether Victory Ground Tennis Club can negotiate a new lease or if padel will claim the space, reshaping the sporting landscape of Bury St Edmunds.

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