The world’s fastest-growing sport is making its way to Sheffield city centre, with a state-of-the-art indoor padel club now open for business.
Club de Padel, which started life in Manchester in 2023 and has been booked out solidly ever since, will be bouncing its way across the Peak District to Kelham Island.
There'll be five indoor competition-grade courts, open from 7am until 10pm every day, as well as a coffee bar and a club shop (which will be selling the exclusive Club de Padel x UN:IK collection).
Club de Padel is housed within Capital&Centric's Cannon Brewery warehouse, a Neepsend landmark that will be transformed into a diverse neighbourhood of new homes, green community spaces, bars, cafes and workspace.
New to padel? All good - there's a full coaching programme featuring 'intro to padel' sessions, club socials, tournaments and private coaching for groups of up to four.
And throughout September, Club de Padel are teaming up with some friends to celebrate throughout September, kicking off by hosting the inaugural ‘Lick of Paint’ Street Art Festival.
Inside Club de Padel SheffieldClub de Padel merch in partnership with UN:IKClub de Padel is now open in KelhamClub de Padel's reception areaClub de Padel SheffieldThere are five competition-grade courts
Brainchild of Megan ‘Peachzz’ Russell and Alastair Flindall (aka Neck of the Wood Studio), the festival will use the exterior walls of the building on Boyland Street to showcase emerging and established talent across the weekend of 6-7 September.
Then there'll be a one-day festival on 20 September, in partnership with 84 John St and Fix Up Running, with a huge group workout, guided city runs, padel taster sessions, and yoga.
Matt McKinlay, co-Founder of Club de Padel said: "We can’t wait to open our Cannon Brewery site - it’s been a real labour of love and it’s looking brilliant now. From the moment we stepped into the space we knew it had something special and Neepsend has this urban, creative energy that really fits with what we’re about.
"We’re here to create a unique and inclusive club that adds to all the exciting stuff that’s already going on in the city - everyone we’ve spoken to so far has been so welcoming and supportive and we can’t wait to get the doors open."
Tom Wilmot, Joint Managing Director at Capital&Centric, said: "Breathing new life into the old Cannon Brewery site has been a big focus for us, and Club de Padel are the perfect match to bring it back with a bang.
"They’ve got real energy and ambition, and they’ve created something that feels properly fresh for Sheffield in collaboration with some of the city’s creative and wellness communities. We’re buzzing to see it come alive this September."
Bookings for Club de Padel Sheffield will go live on Playtomic on Thursday 4 September with the first court playing on Thursday 11 September.
You'll find it at Boyland Street, Kelham Island - the What Three Words location is ///press.arts.active.
Courts will be priced at £36 per hour during off-peak hours, and £44 per hour at peak times, with balls included in every booking and free parking on site.
The talented team behind two of Sheffield's best eateries have opened a restaurant in the city centre.
And it'll come as no surprise to you that it's absolutely class.
When it was announced last year that the masterminds behind Bench and The Pearl, two award-winning Sheffield venues, were setting their sights on opening an Italian trattoria in the city centre we couldn't believe our luck.
Maria, located on Wellington Street in the new heart of the city development, is a homage to owner Ronnie's grandmother and a nod to his southern Italian heritage.
Images: The Sheff
It's a space unlike anything in the city, a small but perfectly-formed space complete with counter dining where you can watch the magic happen.
And magic really is happening, because the food is nothing short of brilliant.
They're cooking up Sicilian-inspired dishes made using Yorkshire produce, like the tortellini in brodo with Yorkshire ham from Swaledale Butchers in Skipton.
Images: The Sheff
They're making their own focaccia daily, in fact our portion was cooked just twenty minutes prior to it being served to us, still steaming and utterly delicious.
There's a special selection of 'before you wait' cocktails on the list, with £5 negronis and dirty martinis that remain that price throughout the day. This is something more restaurants need to be doing, please.
You could come here and get a glass of wine and a bowl of pasta on your lunch break, or you could get comfy and indulge in three or four courses with a few cocktails. Either way, you'll be leaving very happy.
Images: The Sheff
This is elevated dining in a cosy, neighbourhood setting. Even the tiny touches have been thought of, including tiny bowls of Maldon salt on each table in case you need an extra sprinkling.
They're yet to open their bookings due to awaiting approval from the council, but for now you can pop by Maria to sample their preview menu and they'll welcome you in with open arms.
Sheffield amongst nine areas to be long listed for UK City of Culture 2029
Clementine Hall
It's big news for Sheffield as the city has officially been long listed to become the UK City of Culture in 2029.
It’s one of just nine places across the country to make the cut, alongside the likes of Blackpool, Portsmouth and Wrexham.
Winning the title could bring huge investment to Sheffield, thousands of visitors, and a massive spotlight on everything that makes our city special - and let’s be honest, Sheffield’s got plenty to shout about.
From music and film to art and grassroots creativity, culture runs right through this city, and it would be a huge achievement to receive this title.
So, what happens now? Each arena will now receive £60,000 to develop a full application with the aim to build a vibrant cultural programme by 2028.
The nine confirmed long listed locations are: Blackpool, Inverness-Highland, Ipswich, Middlesbrough, Milton Keynes, Portsmouth, Sheffield, Swindon and Wrexham.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: "For far too long, opportunity has not been shared equally across the country. The UK City of Culture and new UK Town of Culture competitions recognise the enormous contributions made by communities all over the UK who are all part of the story of who we are as a nation.
"I look forward to seeing what the nine long listed places have in store as they progress in the competition. I also urge any towns thinking about entering the UK Town of Culture competition to seize this opportunity and get involved. It’s a chance to show the country what makes them unique and shine a spotlight on their cultural offer, enriching the lives of local people."
Go on Sheffield, we're rooting for you big time. We can't think of a city more worthy.