Southampton has three places to play padel – and they couldn’t be more different. Here’s how to pick the right one.
You’ve got a purpose-built urban hub near the motorway with five indoor courts and Playtomic booking. You’ve got a traditional multi-sport club in Eastleigh where padel sits alongside rugby, hockey and squash. And you’ve got a David Lloyd leisure club where the outdoor courts are available if you pay for the right level of membership.
Same city, three completely different setups. This is what you need to know before you book.
Southampton’s padel venues – your options
A quick overview before the detail.
| Venue | Courts | Type | Pay-to-play? | Booking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PadelStars Southampton (Trojans Club, Eastleigh SO50) | 6 (4 indoor + 2 outdoor) | Mixed | Yes | PadelStars app |
| PADELHUB SO16 (Adanac Drive SO16) | 5 | Indoor | Yes | Playtomic |
| David Lloyd Southampton West End | 2 | Outdoor | No (Platinum members only) | Members only |
| New Place Hotel (Shirrell Heath, 8 miles) | 2 | Pop-up outdoor | Yes | Direct booking |
The two main pay-to-play options are PadelStars and PADELHUB. If you want to get on a court this weekend without a membership, those are your venues.
PadelStars Southampton: six courts at Trojans Club
Four indoor courts and two outdoor courts at one of Southampton’s oldest sports clubs.
PadelStars is based at Trojans Club on Stoneham Lane in Eastleigh – SO50 postcode, so technically just outside Southampton proper, but a short drive from the city centre. Trojans has been running rugby, hockey and squash for decades, and padel arrived as a newer addition to that mix.
That context matters. PadelStars at Trojans feels like a proper club – there’s a social scene, a community of regulars, and the sense that you’re playing in a real sporting environment. If you want to find people to play with and build up your game over time, this is a good place to do it.
Six courts in total: four indoor and two outdoor. Booking goes through the PadelStars app.
Pricing is per person, which makes it easy to work out what a session costs:
- Off-peak, non-member: £8.50 per person
- Off-peak, standard member: £6.80 per person
- Peak, non-member: £11.00 per person
- Peak, standard member: £8.80 per person
- Premium members: Free off-peak court time
If you’re playing twice a week, membership pays for itself quickly. If you’re just getting started, the non-member rate lets you try before you commit.
If you’re still figuring out whether padel is for you, your first month of padel covers what to expect in that early stage.
PADELHUB SO16: five indoor courts in the city
A dedicated padel hub close to the M271 – straightforward to book, no membership required.
PADELHUB SO16 sits on Adanac Trade Park off Adanac Drive, near the northern edge of the city and easy to reach from the motorway. Five indoor courts, all bookable via Playtomic. No membership needed.
The setup here is about convenience and access. Turn up, play, leave. The Playtomic app handles everything – court selection, timing, payment. Court hire runs £40–£60 per hour depending on the slot, which works out at £10–£15 per person for four players.
For anyone who wants a purpose-built padel environment without any friction, PADELHUB is the most straightforward option in Southampton. The central location makes it accessible from across the city and from Hampshire beyond – including players based in Portsmouth, which has its own developing scene along the coast.
David Lloyd West End: outdoor courts for members
Two outdoor courts for Platinum members – not worth joining for padel alone.
David Lloyd Southampton West End has two outdoor padel courts. They’re included with a Platinum membership, which sits at the top end of the David Lloyd membership tier structure.
Worth being direct here: if you’re not already a David Lloyd member, this isn’t the route in for casual padel. Platinum membership costs significantly more than a standard gym membership and brings a range of premium facilities – padel is one of several sports included. Signing up for Platinum to access two outdoor courts is hard to justify when PadelStars and PADELHUB both offer pay-to-play.
If you’re already a Platinum member, the courts are there and they’re yours to use. If you’re not, the other venues are a better starting point.
How much does padel cost in Southampton?
Pricing comparison across Southampton’s main venues.
| Venue | Pay-to-play pricing | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| PadelStars (non-member, off-peak) | £8.50 per person | Per-person model – 4 players = £34 total |
| PadelStars (non-member, peak) | £11.00 per person | Peak = evenings and weekends |
| PadelStars (standard member, off-peak) | £6.80 per person | Membership has an additional monthly cost |
| PADELHUB SO16 | £40–£60 per court/hr | Per-court model – split between 4 players |
| David Lloyd West End | Platinum membership | Not recommended for padel only |
| New Place Hotel | £15 per court/hr | 8 miles out, seasonal pop-up courts |
The per-person vs per-court difference is worth understanding. PadelStars charges each player directly, so you always know your own cost before you book. PADELHUB charges per court per hour – cheaper or more expensive per head depending on how many of you are playing.
Four players splitting £50 at PADELHUB is £12.50 each. The same session at PadelStars during peak hours costs £11 per person. The difference is small – the real question is which venue suits how you like to play.
Getting started in Southampton
How to make your first booking and find people to play with.
If you’ve never played before, PadelStars is worth starting with. The club atmosphere at Trojans makes it easier to find people at a similar level, and the per-person pricing means you only need to sort yourself – someone else can organise the court. They run social sessions and beginner events through the PadelStars network.
PADELHUB is better suited to groups who have already sorted their four players and want a straightforward book-and-play setup. Bring your own game, book on Playtomic, and you’re set. For players choosing between the venues as a regular base, the guide to choosing a padel club covers what matters beyond the obvious factors of location and price.
Southampton also has the Americano format well embedded at several venues – it’s one of the best ways to meet other players without needing a regular partner. Worth asking about when you join.
If you’re brand new to the sport, padel vs tennis is worth reading first – it covers the main differences and stops you arriving with the wrong expectations.
Southampton’s scene isn’t as large as Brighton’s or Bristol’s yet, but both PADELHUB and PadelStars have been growing steadily. The infrastructure is there. Getting started is mostly a matter of booking a court and turning up.
See how this compares elsewhere with the full directory of UK padel court guides, organised by region.