Key Points
- London’s flagship padel brand Padium has opened its first venue in Wales at Cardiff Bay Retail Park.
- The 35,000 square foot facility is the largest indoor padel complex in Wales, featuring eight indoor courts.
- Official launch occurred on Saturday, March 14, 2026.
- Wellness area includes a sauna overlooking the courts, ice baths, exercise bikes, and plunge pools.
- Additional amenities: players’ lounge, co-working space, cafe/bar, pro shop, DJ booth, luxury changing facilities, and professional coaching.
- Pricing: £60-£70 per hour for court hire (off-peak £60, peak £70); memberships from £39 per month (Play) to £89 (Play and Recover).
- Padium’s founder Houman Ashrafzadeh called it a “significant milestone” to bring premium padel to Cardiff’s sporting community.
- Site was formerly an Argos store; aligns with Cardiff Bay’s redevelopment including a 15,000-capacity arena.
- Padel described as a mix of tennis and squash, fast-growing globally and in the UK; Cardiff previously had limited indoor options.
- Padium’s London flagship in Canary Wharf opened in September 2023, backed by Spotify founder Martin Lorenzen.
- Other new padel developments in Cardiff: Smash Padel (six courts), David Lloyd (five courts planned); existing: House of Sport (six courts), Game4Padel (Penarth), Jaxx Padel (nine courts in Swansea).
Cardiff (Cardiff Daily) March 14, 2026 – London’s leading padel brand Padium has officially launched its inaugural Welsh venue at Cardiff Bay Retail Park, marking a major expansion for the rapidly growing sport in Wales with eight indoor courts, a sauna overlooking the padel courts, and comprehensive wellness facilities spanning 35,000 square feet.
This state-of-the-art club, which opened its doors on March 14, 2026, positions itself as more than a sports venue, offering a premium lifestyle experience including ice baths, a players’ lounge, and professional coaching. As reported by WalesOnline, the facility is the largest dedicated indoor padel complex in Wales, filling a gap where prior options were limited to outdoor courts or smaller setups.
What is Padium’s New Cardiff Venue?
Padium, renowned for its Canary Wharf flagship in London opened in September 2023, has taken over the former Argos store site in Cardiff Bay Retail Park, Unit E&F, Ferry Road, CF11 0JR. The venue boasts eight high-spec indoor courts designed for year-round play, regardless of Welsh weather.
As detailed in a gallery feature by WalesOnline, the wellness area features a prominent sauna directly overlooking the courts, alongside two ice baths, exercise bikes, and plunge pools for post-match recovery. Additional spaces include a vibrant players’ lounge, co-working area, kitchen, pro shop, bar serving smoothies, juices, and alcoholic drinks, luxury changing rooms, and even a DJ booth to enhance the social atmosphere.
Houman Ashrafzadeh, founder of Padium, expressed enthusiasm about the launch, stating:
“Launching Padium Cardiff is a significant milestone for us. Over the past few years, we’ve cultivated a remarkable padel community in London, and we are eager to share that same enthusiasm with Wales. Our aim is to establish a venue where individuals can unite through sport, whether they are seasoned players or new to the game. Cardiff is a fantastic sporting city, and we look forward to nurturing a lively padel community here.”
When Did Padium Cardiff Officially Open?
The grand opening took place on Saturday, March 14, 2026, as confirmed across multiple outlets including WalesOnline and It’s On Cardiff. Pre-launch coverage from Nation.Cymru on February 18, 2026, announced the date, noting marketing was already underway.
Earlier reports traced the project’s timeline: construction began around April 2025 per Padel Alto and The Padel Paper, with an initial target of late summer 2025, delayed to March 2026. Business News Wales highlighted possession of the site and ongoing construction by April 2025. Padium’s official site lists the address, underscoring readiness.
A spokesman for Padium told Nation.Cymru:
“The city’s strong sporting culture, combined with the fast-growing popularity of padel makes Cardiff an ideal location for Padium’s expansion. Currently, padel facilities in Cardiff are limited to a handful of outdoor courts, with no dedicated indoor premium clubs – a gap Padium aims to fill.”
Who is Behind Padium’s Expansion?
Houman Ashrafzadeh leads the venture, with backing from Spotify co-founder Martin Lorenzen for the London site. In statements to Padel Alto dated April 2025, Ashrafzadeh said:
“Bringing Padium to Cardiff is a significant milestone. The demand for high-quality padel facilities in Wales is at an all-time high, and we’re excited to introduce our premium offering to this vibrant sporting city.”
The Padel Paper quoted him similarly in April 2025:
“Cardiff Bay’s transformation makes it the perfect location for our next club, bringing together high-performance sport and lifestyle in a way that has resonated with London’s growing padel community.”
Nation.Cymru reiterated this in February 2026, adding the expansion solidifies Padium as a leader in premium padel.
It’s On Cardiff described Padium as
“one of the most recognised names in UK padel,”
with this marking their first move outside London.
What are the Prices at Padium Cardiff?
Court bookings start at £60 per hour off-peak and £70 peak, as per It’s On Cardiff and WalesOnline. Memberships include Play at £39 monthly and Play and Recover at £89, offering discounts.
These rates position Padium as premium, aligning with its London model, though exact peak/off-peak definitions were not specified in reports.
Why Cardiff Bay for Padium?
The location ties into Cardiff Bay’s redevelopment, featuring a 15,000-capacity indoor arena, new homes, offices, and leisure spots. As per Business News Wales, it caters to rising demand in a city with strong sports culture.
Houman Ashrafzadeh noted to WalesOnline the shared community-building ethos from London. A Padium spokesman emphasised to Nation.Cymru the lack of indoor premium clubs previously.
What is Padel and Why is it Growing?
Padel, a doubles racket sport blending tennis and squash, uses solid paddles, low-compression balls, and enclosed courts with glass/mesh walls integral to play. Nation.Cymru described it as easy to learn, strategic, accessible to all ages/abilities, with longer rallies.
It’s On Cardiff called it one of the world’s fastest-growing sports, social and suitable for all levels, driving UK demand for quality courts. Padium aims to hub Cardiff’s emerging community.
How Does Padium Fit Cardiff’s Padel Scene?
Cardiff gains from multiple openings: Smash Padel’s six covered courts at Llandaff Bowling Green; David Lloyd Penylan’s planning for five from tennis courts. Existing: House of Sport (six indoor), Game4Padel (Penarth), Swansea’s Jaxx Padel (nine indoor, largest in Wales pre-Padium).
Padium’s scale and wellness focus differentiates it, per The Bandeja and Facebook posts from WalesOnline/It’s On Cardiff.
What Comes Next for Padel in Wales?
With Padium’s launch, Wales sees boosted infrastructure amid global boom. Reports suggest rapid community growth, potentially making Cardiff a padel hotspot. Professional coaching and events could follow, as hinted in pre-launch coverage.
