Soul Padel invests £750,000 in new club at Ayr United’s Somerset Park
Work has begun on a £750,000 padel club at Ayr United’s Somerset Park, with four covered courts and a clubhouse planned for the football ground.
The development is a partnership between Ayr United and Soul Padel, which expects to open the venue in early spring 2027 and create approximately 10 local jobs in South Ayrshire.
The new club will include changing facilities, showers and toilets, with covered courts allowing play throughout the year. Construction work is being carried out by Fife-based sports surface specialist DOE Sport.
Ayr United partnership brings new facilities to Somerset Park
The project will introduce padel to Somerset Park alongside the stadium’s existing football facilities.
Ayr United chairman David Smith said the partnership would give more people a reason to visit the ground beyond football matches.
He said:
“We see this partnership as a great opportunity to introduce more people across Ayrshire to a new sport, bring communities together and create another reason for people to visit Somerset Park.”
The padel facility forms part of wider plans to develop the Somerset Park site, including improvements around the stadium’s Railway End.
The commercial terms of the agreement between Ayr United and Soul Padel have not been disclosed.
Soul Padel expands its Scottish operations
The Ayr development will become Soul Padel’s second Scottish club, following the opening of its first venue at Braehead in Renfrewshire in June 2026.
The Braehead club has four covered courts, while further Scottish developments are planned in Irvine and Midlothian.
Soul Padel was founded in 2023 and operates padel facilities at several locations across England. The company is expanding its network through new developments and partnerships with existing sporting venues.
Founder and chief executive Mark Hewlett said:
“We’re committed to investing in Scotland for the long term and Somerset Park is an exciting home for our next Scottish club.”
The company has confirmed that its Ayr club is scheduled to open in early 2027 and is inviting people to register their interest ahead of the launch.
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