With the rise of padel showing no signs of slowing in the UK, Galebreaker wind and weather protection screens are proving a flexible solution for clubs looking to improve their padel court conditions.

In this case study, learn how Spanscreens helped to support smooth padel court installation while keeping play moving at Cotswold Padel Club.

Based in Northleach, Gloucestershire, Cotswold Padel Club operates within Far Peak Estate, a rural leisure and wellness destination that has evolved from a former beetroot factory into a multi-activity site.

Housed in a purpose-built, wooden-clad indoor venue, with two courts, the club sits alongside the largest campsite in Gloucestershire. It serves those staying on site, regular players from nearby towns and villages, and others travelling from up to 90 minutes away.

As a busy pay-and-play venue, open seven days a week, the club depends on reliable court conditions to keep bookings moving. More than 4,500 people have played at Cotswold Padel Club over the past year, supported by a growing WhatsApp community of more than 1,000 contacts.

Occupancy rates sit between 70% and 100%, with the club averaging around 12 hours of court use per day. Bookings are handled through the Playtomic app, with events and coaching managed directly by the club. Maintaining access and reducing weather-related downtime is therefore key to consistent turnover.

Protecting playability and profitability

Despite being the first indoor facility in the Cotswolds, the venue’s covered design did not guarantee protection from the elements. The open-sided construction meant that without effective screening, balls leaving the court would get wet, crosswinds could affect ball flight, and rain or airborne moisture could impact the quality of play.

The club also faced a more technical challenge linked to the building’s foundations. Because the courts sit on a concrete base, rapid temperature changes and high humidity created dew points, leading to cold spots, moisture build-up on court surfaces and condensation on the glass.

Since playing off the walls is integral to padel, condensation can alter the bounce, speed and accuracy of rallies – creating what the club’s Padel Manager, Kingsley Harris, describes as a playing experience that becomes ‘a different game’.

For Kingsley to fix these issues, the priority was not simply covering the courts. It was creating the best possible playing conditions in an environment where wind, rain, humidity and temperature changes can all affect playability, bookings and player experience.

The solution: Galebreaker Spanscreens

To help manage these conditions, the club approached Galebreaker to see if a custom weatherproofing solution could be retrofitted.

Kingsley was already familiar with Galebreaker through a contact who operates a large poultry farming business in Gloucestershire. Seeing the screens in action in an agricultural setting helped inform his decision.

For optimum playability, padel court windbreakers need to reduce exposure to the elements without making the space feel too enclosed.

For Cotswold Padel Club, Galebreaker Spanscreens offered that balance.

The system was integrated into the club’s existing structure, incorporating Spanscreens along the lower perimeter of the building to shield the courts, while still providing light and airflow.

What makes Galebreaker Spanscreens a good fit for padel?

• Fast-fit installation, with no drilling, bolting or extra supports required
• Built-in ratchet tensioning for a secure fit
• Durable PVC-coated polyester mesh, designed to be rot proof, tear resistant and UV stabilised
• A choice of mesh performance and colours, to suit the building and application

The Spanscreens were chosen because they could reduce the effects of wind and rain without introducing new playing problems. The club selected a darker fabric to maintain ball visibility.

“It was primarily about performance, not the aesthetics. You play with a yellow ball, so having a dark background helps the player to pick the ball out,” explains Kingsley.

Kingsley describes the product as clipping on and looking straightforward to fit, with most of the wider build completed internally thanks to the owner’s background in property development and construction.

Explore Galebreaker Spanscreen: wind and weather protection

Benefits for Cotswold Padel Club

From Kingsley’s perspective, the screens have delivered exactly what the club needed: Improved and more reliable court conditions for year-round quality of play.

Key benefits reported:

• Reduced impact from crosswinds
• Better containment of balls
• Less rain ingress, protection from cold spots and prevention of moisture forming on the glass
• Improved ball visibility against the dark backdrop
• Protection from sun glare

This is important commercially as well as operationally. More playable hours means more scope to keep courts bookable, particularly for a venue that attracts both a growing local community and tourists.

“It stops the wind and rain coming in, making the playability of the courts much better all year round.” 

Kingsley Harris, Padel Manager, Cotswold Padel Club

While the Galebreaker screens were installed to improve performance, they also strengthen the wider visitor experience. With a restaurant, pilates studio, gym, sauna, climbing wall and business hub on site, reliable court conditions help position padel as a core, dependable all-weather activity within Far Peak’s leisure and wellness offer.

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