Sport · Chippenham
Chippenham's new Padel centre confirms opening date at Emery Gate
By Swindon Now Editorial Team · Published
A new sporting facility offering padel courts and interactive play is set to open in the former Tesco unit at Chippenham’s Emery Gate shopping centre this September.
A new sporting facility is set to open its doors in the heart of Chippenham, as Padel Chippenham prepares to launch its site within the Emery Gate shopping centre. The facility will be located in the unit formerly occupied by Tesco, which has remained vacant since the supermarket retailer relocated in 2024.
Opening on September 26, the venue aims to provide a social space for residents of all abilities. The centre features dedicated padel courts, designed to accommodate everyone from seasoned racket-sport players to those picking up a racket for the first time. In addition to the courts, the facility will house MultiBall, an interactive sports wall intended to provide active, screen-based engagement for visitors of all ages.
The centre will also offer on-site changing facilities, equipment hire, retail options, and refreshments. Booking services for the courts are scheduled to go live via the Playtomic app on September 11.
Megan Kenny, centre manager at Padel Chippenham, said: "After months of planning and preparation, we are really excited to finally be able to confirm that Padel Chippenham will open on September 26. We want this to be a venue for the whole community. Padel is incredibly social, it is easy to get started and you certainly do not need to be an experienced racket-sport player to enjoy it."
The operator has launched a Founding Platinum Membership, limited to the first 150 sign-ups, which is priced at £45 per month. Benefits include up to six hours of off-peak court time each week, a 25 per cent discount on peak court bookings, and priority access to booking slots up to 25 days in advance.
The arrival of the padel centre forms part of the wider strategy for Emery Gate to maintain a vibrant visitor destination while long-term redevelopment plans for the site remain in progress. Planning permission for a comprehensive regeneration of the shopping centre was granted earlier this year, which includes proposals for 225 homes and a new mix of commercial, leisure, and hospitality space. While these plans have been approved, a date for the start of construction has not yet been confirmed, with the new sports centre acting as an interim use for the space.
Source: Wiltshire Times — Chippenham · View original