True Padel set to take over former Darlington Wickes store

Wickes, in Haughton Retail Park, has remained closed since 2023 when the retailer wound down operations in the town and has since opened a new store in Durham. 

But now the unit looks set to get a new lease of life after plans were lodged with Darlington Council for True Padel to take over and remodel the site. 

The sports venue operator, which was founded in 2023 on Belmont Industrial Estate in Durham, wants to create indoor padel tennis courts alongside a club bar and restaurant.

Floor plans show how the space would have seven padel courts, as well as a seating area, covered café, sports lounge, and function room, located just beside the main entrance. 

How True Padel's Durham site looked as the site prepared to open (Image: Total Padel Ltd)

Proposals detail how alcohol would be supplied on the premises between 10am and 11pm daily, with opening times earmarked for 6am until 11pm daily. 

A CCTV system will be in operation at all times, with drinks, open bottles, and glasses, not permitted to be taken from the venue at any time. 

Written records of all accidents and safety incidents involving members of the public will be kept and made available at the request of an authorised officer - with a first aider provided at all times when the premises are open. 

True Padel currently operates nine indoor courts from its site in Durham, which was described as a “first of its kind” leisure facility for the North East when it first launched. 

In August, it was announced that True Padel would be opening a new venue in Sunderland, at Wessington Retail Park, which will boast five indoor double courts and two indoor single courts. 

An opening date for the Sunderland site is not yet known.

Padel Tennis differs from normal tennis mainly due to the court having walls - meaning the balls can be played off them like in a game of squash. Solid, stringless bats are also used. 

A question mark has remained over the former Wickes unit since its closure in 2023, with the site being put on the market shortly after the announcement. 

Since then, Wickes has opened its new store in St Andrews Retail Park in Durham in May, with other stores remaining in Newcastle, Sunderland, and Northallerton.

The news comes just weeks after plans were lodged for a multi-sports leisure complex elsewhere in Darlington, within the town’s Faverdale Industrial Estate, which will also feature padel courts

The application - Ward and Sons Holdings Ltd - applied to build six new units to form the indoor sports facility.