Padel arrived in Hastings the way it has in a lot of English towns this size: as a trial, not a grand opening. Two temporary courts went in on the old hard tennis courts opposite Falaise Fitness Centre, and the town got to decide, court by court, whether it wanted to keep them.
It did. Hastings Padel is open now, bookable through Playtomic, and – depending on which end of Falaise Road you’re standing on – comes with a view of the Channel that no directory listing bothers to mention.
Hastings Padel at Falaise Fitness Centre – the courts
Hastings Padel sits at Falaise Fitness Centre, Falaise Road, TN34 1EU, run by Freedom Leisure on behalf of Hastings Borough Council. Two outdoor courts, both doubles-sized, installed on what used to be the site’s hard tennis courts. Freedom Leisure’s own listing for the venue describes courts “in the heart of Hastings with breathtaking sea views” – worth knowing if you’re choosing a session for the light as much as the padel. Book an evening slot in summer and you’ll get a sunset on top of your rally.
The courts began as a six-month pilot, a trial run to see whether Hastings had the appetite for padel before anyone committed further. Hundreds of people had already shown they did a few miles along the coast, when a separate pop-up at White Rock Gardens drew heavy early interest and made local news – enough that the council went looking for funding to make padel a permanent fixture somewhere in the town. Falaise is where that appetite landed: real courts, a regular booking system, and a spot on Playtomic rather than a summer-only setup that packs away in September.
That’s a familiar path for padel in England’s smaller towns. Councils and leisure trusts are wary of committing budget to a sport most people still haven’t tried, so a temporary trial on an existing hard surface is the low-risk way to find out. Hastings ran that experiment and came out the other side with a working venue – which puts it ahead of plenty of towns still waiting for their own trial to happen.
What it costs and how to book
Book through the Playtomic app or website – search “Hastings Padel – Freedom Leisure.” No Freedom Leisure membership is needed; it’s pay-as-you-go, and racket rental is included in the court hire price. You can also call the centre directly on 01424 457692.
Freedom Leisure hasn’t published a fixed rate card for the courts, but pricing across East Sussex generally sits in the £20-30 per court bracket, cheaper off-peak and pricier on weekday evenings and weekends – in line with what you’d expect to pay almost anywhere in the UK. Check Playtomic for the live rate before you book – it’ll show the actual price for your chosen slot rather than a rough average.
Getting there and parking
Two car parks cover Falaise Road: one at Falaise Fitness Centre itself, and a second run by Hastings Borough Council a short walk away. Both are pay-and-display, open 8am-8pm, which comfortably covers daytime and early-evening sessions – just don’t expect to leave your car there overnight.
Nearby alternatives
If Falaise is booked up, Padel People’s courts at Sedlescombe Golf Club are a short drive out of town – useful to know if you’re planning a session at short notice and Hastings itself is full. For a bigger scene with more choice of venue, Eastbourne is the nearest coastal town with real depth: three dedicated venues and enough courts between them that finding a slot rarely takes long.
Hastings won’t match that yet. But for a town this size, going from a temporary trial to a working, bookable venue in one season is a decent result – and the sea view is not something Eastbourne’s three venues can claim.
For court guides in other parts of the UK, browse the full directory of towns we cover.