By Claire Naughten, Muckle llp
In a new £1m purpose-built facility, one of sport’s hottest new trends is set to take the North East by storm.
Pikup Padel’s new Gateshead centre opens as the public’s passion for padel (a mash-up between tennis and squash) continues to surge, showing no signs of slowing down any time soon.
Covering 33,500 sq. ft and housing 11 indoor courts, Pikup Padel’s new centre builds on the growing momentum behind the sport and came to life with legal support from commercial law firm, Muckle LLP.
Fast developing an enviable reputation in the padel world, Muckle is leading the way when it comes to supporting padel developments. Delivering legal support across many aspects of development, Muckle helps to get projects like Pikup Padel off the ground,
“We’ve been very fortunate to work with some fantastic partners,” Patrick Kendall, Director of Pikup Padel said.
“Muckle LLP in particular played a huge part in helping us to secure the unit by guiding us through the process to make this idea come to life.”
It took 11 months of hard work and the navigation of varying complex legal regulations to make Pikup Padel’s vision a reality.
Claire Naughten, partner at Muckle LLP, led the legal team advising on the development.
“If you’re looking to set up in this sector, it can feel a bit of a legal minefield,” she said. “When you’re facing issues like obtaining the correct planning permissions, changing the use of the site, questions over funding and so on, it can be overwhelming.
“But it doesn’t have to be that way. The Muckle team offers a whole range of commercial legal expertise. We are a one-stop shop, advising on everything from property, commercial, sports, governance and corporate law to construction, finance and employment law, all with a depth of knowledge that will help you realise the full ambition of your project.”
The speed with which padel mania has emerged shows how quickly commercial opportunities like this can arise. Those looking to seize opportunities want to act fast, but they need to be mindful of the varying legal and commercial challenges of setting up a venue. The law can be complex; it is hard to underestimate the value of an advisor who can guide you through the entire process to make sure things run smoothly.
For these reasons, it makes commercial sense to partner with a law firm that offers a breadth of specialist knowledge – one that can draw on varied expertise from across the firm to tailor the right package of support for each individual project.
Padel may be the sport of the moment, but Muckle’s reputation and understanding of the sports sector stretches back much further.
Ranked nationally by Legal 500 for sports, the firm advises clients across the sports industry, with demand continuing to grow.
“Working at a national level with bodies such as the FA, Sport England and England Athletics, as well as local grassroots sports clubs, our lawyers couple legal expertise with a detailed understanding of how the sports sector works,” Claire explained. “This can be really helpful when it comes to advising on developments like Pikup Padel.”
More than just a craze, padel looks set to become a permanent fixture in the sporting and leisure landscape of the UK. Easy to learn, accessible, and not weather-dependent (always a positive in the UK climate), padel has captured the public imagination. Hardly surprising, then, that businesses are seeking out commercial opportunities, eagerly looking to convert or construct premises for padel courts and clubs.
But for those wanting to capitalise on the opportunity it’s important not to be swept along.
“Helping the Pikup Padel team bring their vision to life shows how smooth things can be if you engage advisors early on,” Claire explained. “I would strongly urge anyone considering a padel development to get advice from lawyers experienced in the property, construction and sports sector. Not only will they guide you through the process, but they’ll also help ensure the project’s long-term success.”
To learn more, please contact Claire Naughten on 0191 211 7909 or email Claire.naughten@muckle-llp.com