If you’ve been playing padel in North Hertfordshire, you’ll know the county’s courts cluster around Watford and Stevenage, with Hitchin left as a footnote. That changed in June 2025, when Padel Zone opened on Hunting Gate as the town’s first indoor venue. Five courts, a rare singles-only setup, and pricing that sits well above what you’d pay elsewhere in the region – here’s what you’re getting for it.

Quick summary: 5 indoor courts (4 doubles, 1 singles) at Padel Zone, Hunting Gate, SG4 0TJ. £50-60/hour for doubles, £25-30/hour for singles. Book via the Padelmates app or padel-zone.co.uk. No membership required.

Padel Zone – North Herts’ first indoor club

Padel Zone opened to the public on Saturday 28 June 2025, becoming the first fully indoor padel venue in North Hertfordshire. Before that, anyone in Hitchin wanting a game had to drive to Stevenage, Watford, or further afield.

The club sits on Hunting Gate, a short drive from the town centre, with 29 on-site parking spaces. If you’re coming by train, it’s a 20-25 minute walk from Hitchin railway station – doable, but budget the time or grab a bus.

On-site you’ll find a juice bar for post-match recovery, and a programme that goes beyond simple court hire: Introduction to Padel sessions for complete beginners, Padel and Pilates, Women’s Wednesday, an Over 60s session on Thursdays, and Americano tournaments for anyone who wants competitive play without organising their own four.

Courts, pricing, and how to book

Padel Zone runs five courts in total: four indoor doubles courts, plus one dedicated singles court. Planned opening hours are 6am to midnight, seven days a week, though it’s worth checking current hours on the booking app before you travel.

Pricing sits at the premium end for the region. Doubles courts cost £50/hour off-peak (6am-5pm) and £60/hour peak (5pm-midnight). Split four ways, that’s £12.50-15 a head off-peak – reasonable enough, but noticeably higher than the £16-44/hour range you’ll see at most UK venues, Watford included.

Booking runs through the Padelmates app, or directly via padel-zone.co.uk. You don’t need to be a member to book – pay-and-play is available to everyone, at the rates above.

The singles court – a rare feature

Most UK padel venues are built doubles-first, and it shows: finding a dedicated singles court is unusual enough that it’s worth a section of its own. Padel Zone has one – a 6m-wide, full-length court built specifically for one-on-one play, narrower than a standard doubles court but still using the full court length.

Singles pricing reflects the smaller court: £25/hour off-peak and £30/hour peak. If you’ve ever struggled to find a four for a midweek game, or you just prefer the more physical, more exposed nature of singles padel, this is a direct answer to a question most guides don’t even think to ask.

Membership or pay-and-play?

Padel Zone offers 12-month membership, either paid monthly or as an annual lump sum. The core benefits: 20% off court bookings, 10% off the on-site HydrationZone, a free towel and shirt on joining, complimentary racket rental, and a 14-15 day advance booking window instead of the shorter window non-members get.

Whether that’s worth it comes down to how often you play. At 20% off, a member pays £40-48/hour for doubles instead of £50-60 – the discount pays for itself if you’re on court weekly. For anyone who plays Padel Zone occasionally, or is still deciding whether this is their regular venue, pay-and-play makes more sense. The longer booking window matters too: if you’re trying to lock in a Saturday morning slot before it disappears, membership gets you there first.

Nearest alternatives for a change of scene

Hitchin sits inside a wider North Herts padel scene worth knowing about. Padel in Hertfordshire covers the county’s courts more broadly, including Watford and St Albans. Padel in Watford is the closest larger cluster if you want more venue choice. And Padel in Stevenage covers the six-mile trip in the other direction, where a planning application for four more courts is currently in the system.

None of these change the maths on Padel Zone’s pricing – it’s still the most expensive venue in the immediate area. But if you’re new to the sport and want to compare a few venues before committing, they’re all within a 20-minute drive of Hitchin.

See how this compares elsewhere with the full directory of UK padel court guides, organised by region.