Mansfield isn’t a city associated with premium sport. It’s a former mining town in north Nottinghamshire, 14 miles from Nottingham and a little further from Sheffield – close enough to both to feel the pull of their bigger venues, but far enough that getting there and back eats into your evening. For a while, that geography meant padel simply wasn’t an option locally.

That changed when World Padel Academy opened four covered courts next to One Call Stadium, the home of Mansfield Town FC. It’s a purpose-built venue with a clubhouse and coaching programme, constructed from scratch on land adjacent to the football ground. Mansfield Lawn Tennis Club has planning permission for two more courts.

Here’s what’s available now and how to get on court.

The main venue: WPA Mansfield

WPA Mansfield sits on Quarry Lane (NG18 5DA), next to One Call Stadium. It has four covered, semi-indoor courts that are playable year-round.

Courts are booked through the Padel Mates system on the World Padel Academy website, in 60, 90 or 120-minute slots.

Court pricing: WPA doesn’t list prices on its website, so check live rates in the booking system.

The site includes a clubhouse. Check facilities such as parking and kit hire with the venue before you go.

Coaching and getting started

WPA Mansfield’s coach is Zack Webster, who coaches adults and juniors. If you’ve never picked up a padel racket, this is worth knowing – you don’t need any prior experience to book a session.

The venue runs private, semi-private, group and ladies-only coaching, plus 14-week adult and junior academies. For new players, the group sessions are usually the best entry point: you’ll play with other people at a similar level, get coaching input during the session, and come away with a clearer sense of what you’re working on. Enquire through worldpadelacademy.com for current session schedules, as they tend to vary by season.

WPA Mansfield also hosts corporate events and team-building sessions if that’s relevant to you, though the majority of the programme is focused on recreational and competitive play.

What’s coming: Mansfield Lawn Tennis Club

Mansfield Lawn Tennis Club on Pheasant Hill was granted planning permission in October 2025 to replace two grass tennis courts with two uncovered padel courts. No opening date has been announced.

Getting there and nearby alternatives

WPA Mansfield is straightforward to reach by car. If you’re coming without a car, the venue is around a 15-minute walk from Mansfield train station, which connects to Nottingham via the Robin Hood Line (roughly 35 minutes).

If you can’t get on court in Mansfield – WPA books up at peak times, particularly evenings and weekends – the two nearest alternatives are both worth the journey:

Nottingham (around 30 minutes south) has several padel venues, including Pure Padel Nottingham with seven indoor courts. We cover these in our padel in Nottingham guide.

Sheffield (around 40 minutes north) has a growing scene with several established venues. See our padel in Sheffield guide for current options.

For finding courts more broadly, padel court near me covers the main search tools and booking platforms across the UK.

How the scene has developed

The context here matters. The town sits in the kind of postcode that was consistently overlooked during the early years of UK padel growth – when venues were concentrating in London, the commuter belt, and affluent urban areas where operators could charge premium rates and fill courts easily.

The arrival of WPA Mansfield was partly down to the football club model: Mansfield Town provided land adjacent to the stadium, reducing the property risk for a new operator. Local press reported an investment of around £1 million in a purpose-built facility with covered courts and a clubhouse.

A local venue matters here – it puts the sport within reach of casual players who would otherwise drive to Nottingham or Sheffield.

If you’re new to the sport and wondering whether padel is worth trying, how to start playing padel covers what to expect from your first few sessions.

Planning your visit

WPA Mansfield is the only operational padel venue in Mansfield right now, so if you’re booking, this is your destination. A few practical notes:

  • Book in advance, particularly for evenings and weekends – the four courts fill up
  • Off-peak weekday mornings and early afternoons tend to have more availability
  • The venue is family-friendly, with coaching suitable for younger players

If you’re travelling from Nottingham, Sheffield, Chesterfield, or elsewhere in north Nottinghamshire, WPA Mansfield is worth the drive. Four covered courts and a proper coaching programme make it a solid place to play.

Looking to compare with somewhere else? Browse all UK towns we cover for court guides across the country.