en.Wedoany.com Reported - PadelPlex, a UK padel business co-founded by a hotelier and the founder of coffee chain 200 Degrees, has submitted a planning application for its second venue in the East Midlands, with the company's development backed by a former Nottinghamshire and England cricketer.
Founded by hotelier Richard Johal and 200 Degrees founder Rob Darby, PadelPlex has chosen a site on Burley Road in Oakham, planning to develop the project on a Co-op supermarket car park plot. The facility will be its second padel venue in the East Midlands, featuring three covered courts, and will become the brand's first "Plex Local" venue; its first Nottingham location is expected to open later this year.
Johal said that after securing the first Nottingham venue, plans for a second PadelPlex location were submitted quickly, with Rutland specifically chosen for its sporting heritage and market gap. He noted that padel has experienced explosive growth in recent years, transforming from a niche activity into a mainstream phenomenon, and Rutland, as a well-known top-tier outdoor sports hub in the East Midlands, was seen as a perfect choice. Johal emphasized that PadelPlex's focus on customer experience stems from Rob's and his extensive background in the hospitality industry, with the goal of creating spaces that users will want to return to repeatedly.
As an early supporter and active advocate of PadelPlex, Rutland native and former England and Nottinghamshire cricketer James Taylor has invested personal equity, joining the founding team as an investor. Taylor said that PadelPlex's choice of Rutland as its second location is exciting; he grew up in Oakham, and the area holds fond sporting memories. Following his professional cricket career, Taylor now serves as an assistant coach at Leicestershire County Cricket Club.
Rob Darby sold 200 Degrees Coffee, which he founded and grew to 23 UK coffee shops, to Caffe Nero in 2024. He added that PadelPlex is building far more than just courts, and through the first venue in Rutland, developing the "Plex Local" product, the aim is to allow people to enjoy convenient, high-quality padel experiences without having to travel far. The application will be decided by Rutland County Council, and PadelPlex hopes the venue could open in early 2027.
