Padel venues and LGBTQ+ allyship - lessons from the Pro Am Padel Tour
• 3 MINUTE READ
As LGBTQ+ Pride Month got underway, the first Pro Am Padel Tour Community Day, delivered by the LTA, took place at Rocket Padel in Beckton, and included an LGBTQ+ padel session as part of the day’s activities. We spoke to some of those who took part to find out what got them interested in padel, and how venue allyship can help padel become even more inclusive.
The Pro Am Padel Tour pairs professional padel players with celebrities from the worlds of sport and entertainment in a series of team competitions, this year featuring former Rugby player Joe Marler, and comedian Jason Manford as team captains. This year, each Pro Am Padel Tour event has expanded across two days, starting with a Community Day devoted to activities that engage with local under-served groups, giving them opportunities to play padel that they may never otherwise have experienced.
These community days, delivered by the LTA, are all about opening up padel to different communities, helping to make padel become more inclusive and accessible as the sport itself continues to grow in popularity.
With LGBTQ+ Pride Month underway, one of the day’s sessions was devoted to LGBTQ+ inclusion, welcoming along members of LGBTQ+ padel group All-Out Padel, as well as members of LGBTQ+ communities who were trying the sport for the first time. All-Out Padel launched in 2023, becoming Britain’s first LGBTQ+ padel group, but its story began two years before, co-founder John Kat tells us. “A few of us fell in love with padel during a trip to Spain in 2021 and, after coming back to London, we created a small WhatsApp group. It was just a handful of us playing informally and spreading the word among our squash-playing friends.
John Kat helped co-found All Out Padel in 2023, and knows the difference the allyship of a venue can make.
“As interest grew, we decided to make it official and host a proper social. Rocks Lane Chiswick was the first venue to support us, giving us a regular monthly slot and even sponsoring our team for the 2024 EuroGames in Vienna, where padel was included for the first time. Eight of us went—and we came back with a bunch of medals!”
Since the group started, it has gone on to host sessions at other venues across London, including Rocket Padel in Battersea and the Padel Box in Bermondsey. All-Out Padel’s WhatsApp group now includes more than 150 people, with four times that following the group on Instagram. For John, whilst the group’s appeal – an energetic and addictive new sport, combined with a friendly and inclusive environment – has been a big draw, the allyship of venues across the capital has been crucial, and not just in securing them court time in a city where demand is sky-high.
“These venues help promote our events, offer fantastic facilities for post-game socialising, and have even sponsored us with prizes and t-shirts—like for the EuroGames in Vienna” says John. “That kind of allyship makes a real difference in making the sport more accessible and inclusive for LGBTQ+ players.”
Fellow All-Out Padel member Charlie agrees, saying “The LGBTQ+ community wants to just be accepted for who we are and it's great that facilities like this and others are open to having LGBTQ+ members and players and not hide it away. It's good that it's a safe space for LGBTQ+ people to come along and play padel and enjoy the sport just like anyone else.”
The session at the Pro Am Padel Tour’s Community Day gave more inexperienced players the chance to come and give it a go, as well as more experienced players from All Out Padel. One player who took part in the session who is relatively new to the sport is Kiara. Having played a few different sports in school, Kiara, was drawn to the even, in her words, “because it was a queer event and I don't really see many queer events like that, especially not in sport as well… I really love padel, so I wanted to be in an environment where it's like-minded people playing a great sport.”
Another player, Lou, thinks venues should replicate the session that Rocket Padel have put on: “This has been amazing… just championing LGBTQ+ people and making them feel seen, heard and welcomed in environments like this… I've met so many amazing people.”
Pro Am Padel Tour founder Olly Morgan said following the day, “Introducing Community Days to the Pro Am Padel Tour this year was all about bringing new communities to padel but also helping padel venues to see how they can become more inclusive for people from different backgrounds, like those from LGBTQ+ communities. It was great to welcome LGBTQ+ players to our day at Rocket Padel, and I hope that as we travel across Britain this year, and as the sport continues to develop, more and more padel venues open their doors and are seen as safe, welcoming and inclusive spaces for LGBTQ+ communities.”
LTA Padel Manager Steve Yeardley said, “At the LTA, we are committed to giving as many people as possible a great first experience of padel. By working closely with local venues and operators, we help ensure there are accessible follow-on sessions and lasting opportunities for everyone to deepen their love for the game. We look forward to building on this momentum and continuing our partnership with the Pro Am Padel Tour to grow padel across Great Britain.”
Image credit: Mike Garrard Photography
