Hodgson cut the ribbon when the venue opened last weekend at the former Wickes unit on Haughton Road, marking Pure Padel’s debut site in the North East.
He was one a number of former Quakers in attendance, with Phil Turnbull, Leon Scott, Graeme Armstrong, Gary Brown and Kevin Burgess also involved in the opening, as was the Darlington Womens team.
Sammy Arora, founder and managing director of Pure Padel, said: “It was an amazing day — we had so many people come down who’d never played padel before, and seeing them smiling, laughing, and instantly loving it really sums up the beauty of the sport.
We’re excited to be part of the community and look forward to raising awareness of padel here in Darlington.”
The 28,000 sq ft site has undergone a complete transformation and now features seven indoor padel courts, a café and bar, a sports lounge, changing rooms, and retail store.
Sammy added: “For us, it’s not just about padel — it’s the social side too. We’ve created a space where people can relax and socialise, with a great bar and café serving hot and cold drinks, including alcohol. There’s a heated sports lounge perfect for anyone wanting to work remotely during the day, plus premium showers and changing rooms.
“We’ve also brought in a top-level coach who’ll help players develop and lead our junior academy. And to help more people discover the sport, we’re offering £5 taster sessions — because once you get a racket in your hand, we know you’ll be hooked.”
The club offers a “pay to play” model via the Playtomic app, allowing users to book slots from 7am to 10pm Mon-Frid and 8am-8pm Saturday and Sunday.
Players of all levels, including solo or first-time players, will be able to find suitable matchups using the app’s skill-based matchmaking system, without the need for a traditional membership.
Pure Padel already operates a club in Manchester and Alderley Park, and the Darlington launch is part of its plan to open 30 clubs nationwide over the next five years. Planning has also been submitted for a second North East site in Gosforth.
Padel has exploded in popularity in recent years. Described as a hybrid between tennis and squash, padel is played on a smaller, enclosed court with solid paddles and a tennis ball.