Co Antrim: Opening of new padel club at Kingfisher Country Estate 'reflects growing momentum behind the sport'
The fast-growing sport of padel is gaining a further foothold in Co Antrim with the opening of a new state-of-the-art facility at Templepatrick.
Padel Society, co-founded by David McCann and James Palmer and backed by multi-million-pound private investment, has announced the opening of a club at the Kingfisher Country Estate.
It is being delivered in partnership with DoubleTree by Hilton and will operate under the co-branded identity Kingfisher Padel Club by Padel Society.
The estate is already home to a championship golf course, luxury spa, gym, and hotel. The addition of padel aims to further enhance its active lifestyle offering with courts built and installed by Padel-Craft to the highest European standards.
The launch marks Padel Society’s second club following a hugely successful debut season at Muckamore Cricket Club, where the brand opened in July 2025.
The Antrim club exceeded expectations, quickly establishing itself as a social and sporting hub for the local community, with consistent demand for courts, a growing coaching programme, and strong investor confidence underpinning continued expansion.
James Palmer, co-founder of Padel Society, commented: “After an incredible first season in Antrim, Kingfisher is a natural next step for Padel Society. David and I set out to build a premium padel business with the right venues, the right partners and the right long-term approach.
"Kingfisher is one of Northern Ireland’s standout hospitality destinations, and this partnership reflects the direction we want to take the brand. We have strong momentum, continued investor confidence and a growing pipeline of sites across Ireland. This is only the beginning.”
Padel Society is now building a network of clubs across Ireland and beyond, with a number of sites in development and progressing through planning.
Welcoming the announcement, Naomi Nicoll, president of the Padel Federation of Ireland, said: "The opening of Kingfisher Padel Club by Padel Society is a very positive development for padel in Ireland. Set in a wonderful location, it reflects the growing momentum behind the sport and the opportunity to expand the game in welcoming, accessible settings.
“Developments like this not only support local participation but also contribute to Ireland’s growing appeal as a destination for sports tourism."
Padel is thought to be the world's fastest-growing racquet sport, with over 25 million players.