Cartmell Shepherd supports Hexham Tennis Club’s padel court success

Deemed “the fastest growing sport in Britain” by the Lawn Tennis Association, padel tennis is experiencing a rapid surge in popularity. Figures show that participation more than tripled last year, with new courts springing up across the country.

Hexham Tennis Club was among the first in the Northeast to embrace the trend, opening its own padel court supported by Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors. One year on and the court has been a huge success, welcoming over 750 players many of whom have never picked up a racquet before.

Club Chairman Vince Burini said: “It’s safe to say we’re all pleasantly surprised at the success of the padel court. We’ve been inundated with bookings since it opened!”

The court was initially proposed as a means of generating additional revenue for the tennis club, which struggled with falling membership numbers. By offering padel as an easier alternative to tennis, the club could reach a wider audience as a community padel hub.

A successful grant application saw the club awarded £79,000 to fund the padel court. However, as construction got underway in late 2021, numerous hurdles pushed the total cost up to £115,000.

“We started looking for a sponsor to cover some of the additional costs. We’re lucky to have a beautiful ground, so it was important to find a brand that matched the setting and aligned with our ethos of ‘sport for all.’ As an established firm with a strong community focus, Cartmell Shepherd was the perfect fit. The additional funding we received, along with a few other private donations, just got us over the line.”

Since opening in October 2024, the padel court has attracted a wide range of players from families and couples to groups and visitors to the area.

Ladies Team Captain, Caroline Armstrong, said: “Typically, padel is most popular among young men, so from the outset we wanted to encourage as many women as possible to get involved. We appointed a coach and created some taster sessions which were a huge success. Our women’s WhatsApp group now has over 50 members, in addition to our men’s group, and we’ve been able to run both men’s and ladies’ tournaments.”

As well as benefitting the local community, the court has injected some much-needed cash into the club. Vince continued: “Padel court bookings have provided us with a steady income, which we’ve used to create safe pathing and lighting for the padel, and refurbish our other facilities. It’s put us on a stable footing, which we can continue to build from.”

Supporting community projects like the padel court is a key priority for Cartmell Shepherd, which employs nearly 130 staff across Northumberland and Cumbria.

Following amalgamation with Hexham-based Nicholson Portnell Solicitors in 2024, the law firm now offers a larger range of services locally including employment law, commercial property, agriculture and agribusiness, as well as extended teams for conveyancing, Wills and estates, family law and dispute resolution.

Joanne Stronach, Managing Director of Cartmell Shepherd said: “We’re delighted with the impact the padel court has had just a year after opening, inspiring people of all ages and backgrounds to get active. The facilities are exceptional and many of our own team have enjoyed playing after work.”

“For us, working with local organisations is about more than just sponsorship, it’s about building lasting relationships. This involves attending tennis club events, promoting the club on our social media platforms, and sponsoring the annual trophies presentation. We also have some exciting plans to use the facilities to raise funds for local charities – watch this space!”

Other initiatives supported by Cartmell Shepherd since its expansion into Hexham include the Hexham Book Festival, other Hexham-based charities and setting up the popular Hexham and Tyne Valley Ladies’ Networking Lunch “It’s just over 18 months since we opened our first Hexham base and it’s been a pleasure to support some fantastic local initiatives. We look forward to continuing to play our part in the years to come.”