Basildon doesn’t have the court density of Chelmsford or Southend, but it doesn’t need many venues to cover a smart player’s needs – it has one very good one and a members’ option behind it. PadelStars Basildon opened in May 2025 and immediately became the borough’s first dedicated padel facility, with an expansion already approved for 2026.
This guide covers both venues, what to expect, and how Basildon fits into the wider south Essex padel picture.
PadelStars Basildon
PadelStars Basildon sits inside Basildon Sporting Village on Cranes Farm Road (SS14 3GR), tucked between the football pitches and the netball courts. It opened officially in May 2025 with four courts – three covered and floodlit, one open-air – and a clubhouse with a cafe, bar and seating area that makes it a proper place to hang around after a match rather than a car park you leave straight from.
The covered courts are the practical draw for a town that gets its share of Essex weather. Three under cover means a booking here is far less likely to be rained off than at a fully outdoor venue, while the open-air court gives you the show-court atmosphere on a dry evening. Opening hours run 7am to 10pm on weekdays and 7am to 8pm on weekends, which covers early sessions before work and a decent evening window either side.
Booking is through the PadelStars app or website – create an account, pick Basildon from the list of venues, and book a slot. Peak evening times fill up during the week, so if you’re organising a four for a Tuesday night, book a day or two ahead rather than assuming there’ll be space.
David Lloyd Basildon
David Lloyd Basildon, in the north of the town near the A127, has dedicated padel courts bookable through the David Lloyd app. Access runs through Platinum membership rather than pay-and-play, so it suits someone already paying for the gym and pool there more than a casual player looking for a one-off session.
Rackets can be borrowed and balls bought on site, so a first session at either venue doesn’t need any kit beyond trainers. The David Lloyd courts add a second option in the town, useful on the rare evening when PadelStars is fully booked or you’d rather combine a match with a swim.
An expansion already in motion
Basildon Borough Council approved an expansion of the padel offer at Basildon Sporting Village on 22 February 2026, less than a year after the original four courts opened. The plans add two more covered, floodlit courts and a roof canopy over the existing open-air court, along with extended weekend hours until 10pm. PadelStars Basildon outgrew its opening footprint quickly enough that the council signed off on more space within nine months of the ribbon-cutting.
That’s a useful signal for anyone weighing up whether to commit to the sport locally. A council doesn’t fast-track an expansion for a facility nobody’s using. If you’ve been meaning to try padel in Basildon, the current four courts are a good starting point, with six on the way and the open-air court about to gain a roof.
How Basildon compares to south Essex
Basildon sits alongside Southend and Brentwood as part of a south Essex cluster with a growing padel scene, though it’s the newest entrant of the three. Southend has five clubs and 17 courts spread across the town – see the Southend padel guide for the full breakdown of Padel4all Garon Park and David Lloyd Southend. Basildon, by contrast, is a two-venue town for now, which makes the choice simpler even if the options are narrower.
If neither Basildon venue has a slot when you need one, the wider Essex padel guide covers the county’s other clusters – Brentwood and the Heron Padel Club a short drive north, or the bigger west Essex venues around Ilford and Romford if you’re willing to travel further for more court choice.
What a session costs
Court fees at PadelStars Basildon are pay-and-play, so you’re charged per court per hour rather than committing to a membership. Prices flex with time of day – daytime midweek slots are the cheapest, evenings and weekends cost more, and off-peak weekday mornings are worth chasing if your schedule allows it. Check current rates in the app before booking, since padel pricing across Essex venues moves with demand as new courts open.
David Lloyd Basildon works differently: padel is folded into Platinum membership rather than billed per session, so the cost only makes sense if you’re already a member or planning to use the gym and pool alongside the courts. For a one-off game with no ongoing commitment, PadelStars remains the simpler route.
Getting started with padel in Basildon
PadelStars Basildon is the better first stop if you haven’t played before – no membership needed, and the clubhouse setup means you’re not rushing off the second your session ends. Bring trainers with non-marking soles; padel courts use an artificial turf surface and heavy tread damages it over time, so most venues will turn you away in running shoes.
Rackets are available to borrow at both venues, so there’s no upfront cost beyond the court fee while you work out if the sport’s for you. Once you’ve had a few sessions in, keep an eye on the Sporting Village expansion – more courts usually means more availability at the times that matter, evenings and weekends, when a town’s one club tends to fill up fastest.
Looking to compare with somewhere else? Browse all UK towns we cover for court guides across the country.