Performance Padel's new Kendal centre seeks licence

A facility for a fast growing sport could be given permission to serve alcohol.

Performance Padel opened its first branch in Preston last year and is now set to bring its second to Kendal this month.

The centre will be on the Castle Mills industrial estate off Aynam Road.

The facility was given planning permission by Westmorland and Furness Council earlier this year.

Its owners have now applied for an alcohol licence, aimed at people staying for drinks after playing the ‘social’ sport.

They have asked for permission for indoor sporting events from 6am to 11pm and for the supply of alcohol from 11am to 10.30pm, both of which for every day of the week.

Opening hours would be from 6am to 11pm every day.

Co-owner and director of Performance Padel, Robin Lawson, spoke to the Local Democracy Reporting Service about the new facility.

He said: “It is a very sociable sport, most people have a tea or a coffee after in the daytime, and people like a beer so they stay and have one.

“Some of them on a Friday might have five or six beers and leave their car over, that’s the idea.”

On being asked about keeping noise in check, Robin said they don’t have much ‘rowdiness’.

He added: “It is just people playing Padel, having (generally speaking) and then driving away.

“Staff and hosts keep an eye out and will intervene if anyone is behaving in that way.

“We haven’t had any of that in Preston and don’t envisage it happening in Kendal.”

Speaking about what facilities there will be, Robin said: “The court should be arriving next week, so it depends on them.

“We will have five courts as it is only a doubles game, it doesn’t really exist as a singles game.

“We will have a cafe, changing rooms and showers. Potentially next door, we have a planning application and if we get permission, it will be pickleball courts.”

Robin said they were aiming to open towards the ‘very end of July’ or potentially ‘very early August’.