Is the court the new pub? New data shows Brits are swapping post-work pint for padel

The traditional pub, once the go-to spot for Brits to unwind after work, is seeing a shift in popularity as more people are turning to padel for their post-work socialization. This change is highlighted by recent data from Playtomic, a community platform for the sport that manages about 85% of UK padel bookings. Playtomic's Alan Douglas notes a significant uptick in weekday evening padel bookings between 6pm and 9pm, with nearly 600,000 players taking advantage of these slots in the first nine months of 2026 - a two-fold increase compared to 2025. September also saw the highest number of evening bookings, reaching 80,000.

The trend is predominantly driven by individuals aged 25 to 44, who make up 63% of these bookings. These working professionals are looking for a new way to socialize with friends after their day. Unlike the pub, padel offers a more health-conscious option that is fun for all skill levels and can be enjoyed in groups of four. Padel clubs are now recognizing the importance of combining their sport with social settings.

Many busy padel clubs are seen hosting happy, sweaty groups of friends, still in their playing gear, discussing their games and often enjoying a beer.

The growing popularity of padel is evident in the increasing occupancy rates of the courts, with about half of UK players struggling to secure a booking during peak times. The 2026 Playtomic and PwC Global Padel Report confirms that UK padel has grown by 86% year-on-year since 2021. On average, 62,000 people per month began playing padel for the first time in 2026, and over 60% of them continued playing within four weeks.

While the pub remains an essential part of British life, it seems that the after-work social crowd has found a new place to gather. Brits are increasingly heading to padel clubs for a glass of beer and a round of fun with friends, marking a significant transformation in post-work social habits.