Callum Slater

Happy Birthday to my favourite person

Most sports facilities think it’s all about the game.

They’re missing the point entirely.

What I’m about to share with you proves that building a true padel community is about so much more than perfect courts (though we’re nailing those too)...

Here’s where we stand with YOUR community hub:

This week we’re completing final groundworks for Court #3. But this isn’t just another court… It’s the final piece of our “padel for everyone” vision where beginners and pros share the same space, learn from each other, and become lifelong friends.

March 2nd - The magic begins

The canopy arrives for a 3-week installation. Picture this: rain or shine, our community will gather, play, laugh, and connect.

No weather excuses, no cancelled social games, no missing out on that post-match chat that turns strangers into teammates.

Here’s what gets me really excited:

After the canopy installation, we lay the game-changing tarmac with THE specialist (over 100 courts since 2020).

But here’s why this matters to YOU:

Perfectly flat courts mean everyone... From your 8-year-old trying their first serve to your grandad making his comeback – gets to experience padel at its absolute best.

No excuses, no “the court’s not fair,” just pure, equal opportunity fun.

End of March (the moment we’ve all been waiting for):

Courts arrive from Spain
3 days installation each
1 day per court for astro turf

But here’s where Haverhill Padel Club really comes alive:

While everyone else stops at functional courts, we’re creating the community space you’ve been dreaming of:

• Social area designed for those “just one more drink” conversations

• The New Croft Bar – because the best padel stories happen over a cold beer

• Smart lockers (grab rackets and balls, no fuss, more time for what matters)

• Every finishing touch designed to make HPC feel like YOUR second home

The countdown to open is on and we can’t wait to see you on the court!

This is the update we’ve been waiting to send.

The canopy is being delivered on 2nd March.

Once that’s in place, we move into the final phase… which means if the weather behaves itself, we could be open in early April.

Yes. Early April.

The courts themselves are currently on order and due to ship from Spain in mid-March. We went all in on quality here.

The supplier has delivered over 300 clubs in the last 10 years and their courts are some of the best we could find. If we’re bringing padel to Haverhill, we’re doing it properly.

I’m back on site this weekend with Jillzo (fresh off what can only be described as an international influencer tour since discovering Instagram).

We’ll be overseeing the next stage and sharing more behind-the-scenes progress as it happens.

It’s starting to feel real now.

Thank you to everyone who’s backed this, shared it, and supported us so far. We’re building something special for this town.

The 100 club annual membership prices will be announced over the next couple of weeks, to stay updated click the link in bio

More updates very soon,

Callum
Haverhill Padel Club

The most reliable thing in British weather? A roof.

Rain.
Wind.
Sideways rain.
Your neighbour’s bin halfway down the street.

Meanwhile at Haverhill Padel Club…

Courts open.
Games on.
People playing.

Because we’re building a proper roof.

Not a tent.
Not a tarp.
Not something that flaps when a pigeon sneezes.

A real, all-weather structure.

Which means:
✔️ No cancellations
✔️ No rain checks
✔️ No excuses

Just padel... 365 days a year 🎾

And if you’re in The 100 Club?
You get first pick of all the prime winter slots.

Join the 100 Club Early Access List via the link in my bio 👆



Callum

You Don’t Need Experience to Play Padel… Here’s Proof

18 months ago, my dad had never picked up a padel racket. Fast forward to today, and he’s smashing rallies, keeping up in doubles, and genuinely enjoying every match.

Why the fast improvement?

• Small courts make rallies fun and fast, you hit the ball more, you improve quicker.
• Underarm serve, much easier than tennis, so you can actually get the ball in play.
• Doubles format means you only cover a small space — perfect for beginners.

At Haverhill Padel Club, we’re making it easy for beginners like him (and you) to get started:

• Regular Introduction to Padel sessions
• Ongoing beginner lessons
• Open matches for beginners, all through our easy-to-use app

No experience needed. No pressure. Just turn up and play.

If you’d like to be kept in the loop on opening dates, membership options, and early offers, join the newsletter via the link in daaaaaa bioooo

The Real Reason I’m Opening Haverhill Padel Club

First. The price of courts.

I have played at clubs charging £80 to £100 for a 90 minute match.

Split four ways and people say…

“Yeah but that’s just what padel costs”

But when you actually stop and think about it, £10 to £12 doesn’t get you much anymore.

One or two drinks at the pub will cost you £10 to £15..
A Premier League football match can be £75 plus..
Bowling or the cinema is often £20 per person..

Yet paying £20 to £25 each for a game of padel has somehow become normal.

That never sat right with me.

I completely get that running a business has high costs, like rent, staff and not to mention the build cost, but
at Haverhill Padel Club our courts will be £40 to £48 for a 90 minute booking, off peak and peak.

That means £10 to £12 per player for a proper game of 90 minutes.

Affordable for players.
Still profitable as a business.

And if you are part of the 100 Club membership, your share drops even further.

Second thing that drives me mad.

Not being able to actually get a court.

Two days ago I was on the phone to my brother and he said
“Should we play padel on Sunday?”

I opened the booking app and every court within a 60 minute radius was fully booked from 6am to 10pm.

That is when it really hit me.

Padel does not have a demand problem.
It has a supply problem.

And locally it is even worse.

The nearest courts to Haverhill are Cambridge and Bury St Edmunds and both are uncovered.

Which is fine in July.
Not so great when it is minus two and raining.

That is exactly why we are building Haverhill Padel Club.

Covered courts.
Fair pricing.
And enough availability that you can actually get a game.

If you want early access, priority booking and founder offers, join the email list (link in my bio)

The answer to “how?” is yes. The 2026 Vision.

In 2026, the goal is simple (but not small):

• Open two outdoor padel clubs
• Open one indoor padel club

So where are we right now?

Location 1

- Currently under construction.
- 3 covered courts in Haverhill, Suffolk.
- On track for completion in March / April 2026! A project I’m incredibly excited about.

Location 2

- Planning permission approved.
- 3 covered courts.
- The aim is to begin construction immediately after completing Haverhill, with a target opening of late summer / early autumn 2026.

That leaves the missing piece…

The indoor padel club.

In 2025, it completely evaded me.

I viewed multiple sites that ultimately didn’t stack up... Roof height, location, parking, cost, change-of-use challenges. Close, but never right.

2026 changes that.

This year, I will secure an indoor padel club with:

• 5+ courts
• Food & beverage
• Ice baths
• Sauna
• A strong, values-led community

How will it happen?

I don’t have every answer yet (or the investment).

But I’ll approach it the same way I did back in 2017, when in my early 20s I bought a gym as a newly qualified PT.

No perfect plan.

Just commitment, momentum, and ex*****on.

Because I’ve learned something important along the way:

The answer to “how?” is yes.