Today we’d like to introduce you to Jacob Bicknell, Peter Worton Padel Up.
Hi Jacob Bicknell, Peter Worton, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
One of our founders, Jacob Bicknell, is an ex professional tennis player from Jamaica. Growing up overseas and traveling the world, we’ve seen the power of sport, specifically racquet sports, in different communities. Living in NYC, Jacob picked up padel and was instantly hooked. It’s one of those sports where you might need another game; and another. On a trip to Los Angeles, he was itching to play but couldn’t find a single court. That felt a little odd in one of the largest cities in the world. That Monday, we had our “ah-ha” moment. The next day, one of our other founders, Peter Worton, jumped on a plane to the birthplace of the sport, Mexico, to visit some of the biggest clubs. From there, the seed was sewn – we knew that something special was about to unfold.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Without a doubt, the pain point is real estate. In a city like Los Angeles, it’s challenging to get a studio apartment for the right price, let alone a 16,000 sq. ft warehouse! Padel clubs require a space that checks several challenging boxes, namely ceiling height clearance. On top of that, we’re doing something that no one else has done before. Landlords have never heard of padel… You really have to sell that proof of concept and assure them that there’s solid business fundamentals there. The cherry on top is the complex and timely permitting and construction processes. We’ve had to walk away from more than a few sites (no, you can’t count them on one hand).
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Our brand, without question. We’ve invested into a brand that stands out, something original. It’s not just a logo or a look – it’s an identity. It resonates with our community and speaks to who we are. We spent over a year working on every element of the visual expression of the brand, and people feel that. That commitment to living out that brand ethos has enabled us to attract and collaborate with massive partners like Lululemon, and attract a lively, diverse community. Our players love to compete, and also appreciate good company. We’re focused on our vision, doing our dance, though we’re always looking up with intention, for what’s next.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
A favorite shared memory comes from Jamaica. Picture a bus packed with youth winding through the countryside. No sooner than those bus doors flew open, we were on the court – playing anything and everything: sting-pong, football-tennis, squash-dodgeball, even tennis-diving. You can see we had the tendency to blend sports back then too. Jacob’s grandfather would launch tennis balls at us from a raft in the sea, as we’d dive off the headland to catch them – each one worth a dollar. Those moments shaped the spirit of play that lives on in what we’re building today.
Pricing:
- We use dynamic pricing based on peak vs off-peak hours. A standard court reservation starts at $25 per person.
- We offer weekly Clinics, Open Play, Tournaments, Private Lessons.
- We also host private events – from small networking mixers to full-scale team events and holiday parties.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.padelup.club/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/padelupclub/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@padelupclub
