Smeda Sports opening racquet sports centre for padel and pickleball in Christchurch after Vail Williams property deal

A WAREHOUSE in Christchurch is serving up something a little different after being transformed into an indoor centre for racquet sports.

After buying unit 1-2 at Priory Industrial Park, Smeda Sports has opened the facility in Airspeed Road where visitors can play padel, a mix of tennis and squash usually played in doubles.

People can also play pickleball, which combines tennis, badminton and table tennis, and is also usually played in doubles, at the centre.

Smeda Sports has signed a 10-year lease on the 15,418sqft premises, which includes ground and first-floor offices and 24 car parking spaces, as well as new panoramic padel courts and purpose-built acrylic pickleball courts.

Property consultancy Vail Williams acted for the owner of the property.

Smeda Sports, which sells products for pickleball, padel and sportswear and accessories, will be complementing activities with gym equipment tailored for pickleball and padel strength and conditioning, along with yoga and pilates sessions.

In a joint statement, the company’s directors Tania Smeda and Karen Smith said: “Following a significant investment in the warehouse lease and courts conversion, we look forward very much to introducing padel and pickleball to new players in Christchurch, young and old, and creating local employment.

“We are grateful to Vail Williams for serving up a great sporting venue for us here on the South Coast, with the location convenient for customers from the BCP conurbation and New Forest.”

Bryony Thompson, a Vail Williams partner, said: “We have seen a considerable increase in requirements for indoor padel centres in recent months and we are pleased to have been involved with Smeda Sports bringing these two popular racquet sports to Christchurch which will no doubt be incredibly successful.

“Padel is likely to appeal to the more athletically minded, while pickleball, using a paddle and a ball called a wiffle, is accessible for all skill levels and ages.”