Padel At The Pub
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OPENING 19TH SEPTEMBER 2026 · THE BLACK HORSE, CHESHAMOPENING 19TH SEPTEMBER 2026
THE BLACK HORSE, CHESHAM

BEGINNER’S GUIDE

How to play padel, no experience required.

You don’t need to be sporty. You need three mates and about an hour, we’ll cover the rest, right through to the pint after.

Book a CourtFind your nearest court
4 players

Padel is doubles, two against two, on one enclosed court.

~45 min

A typical social match, start to handshake.

0 experience

Needed to book. Coaching’s there if you want it.

1 site

Play, then eat and drink without going anywhere else.

HOW TO PLAY PADEL

What actually happens when you turn up.

Forget the rulebook for a second, here’s the honest version of your first visit, from booking to last orders.

SWIPE THROUGH
1

Turn up, no kit required

Grab your court time and head to the Padel Café. If you don't own a racket, hire is on site, so there's nothing to buy before your first game.

2

A quick warm-up

A few minutes hitting the ball to get your eye in. Padel's forgiving to start with, the glass and fencing keep the ball in play far more than you'd expect.

3

Coaching if you want it

Never picked up a racket before? Coaching is available for complete beginners, so you can start with a bit of structure instead of guesswork.

4

Play doubles, keep it simple

Padel is almost always doubles. Underarm serve, one bounce before you volley, and the ball can come off the back and side walls, that's the bulk of it.

5

Food and drink, no need to leave

Win or lose, the Padel Café and the Black Horse are right there. Grab a table, order food, and let the loser buy the first round.

LEARN THE GAME

Padel rules for beginners.

Padel was invented in Mexico in the late 1960s, took off in Spain, and is now one of the fastest-growing sports in the UK. Just enough below to not look silly in front of your mates, pick a tab to dig into whichever bit you’re curious about.

A court built to keep rallies going.

At 20m long and 10m wide, a padel court is enclosed on all sides by tempered glass and mesh fencing. That's the single biggest reason it's easier than tennis for a first-timer: the ball rarely goes far, so beginners get long rallies instead of chasing it into the next court.

QUICK FACTS
20m long, 10m wide playing area
Glass back wall, mesh side fencing
Synthetic turf surface, all-weather
Floodlit, so evenings are covered too

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE

Padel vs pickleball vs tennis.

“Padel tennis”, pickleball, real tennis, it’s easy to mix them up. Pick one to compare, judged on what actually gives you a proper day out afterward.

Padel
Pickleball
COURT
Padel:20m x 10m, enclosed by glass & mesh
Pickleball:About the size of a badminton court, no walls
EQUIPMENT
Padel:Solid, stringless perforated racket
Pickleball:Solid paddle, plastic wiffle-style ball
FORMAT
Padel:Doubles only, built to be social
Pickleball:Singles or doubles
SCORING
Padel:Tennis-style, often a golden point decider
Pickleball:Rally to 11 points, win by 2
LEARNING CURVE
Padel:Low, most people rally within minutes
Pickleball:Low, but points are short and less of a workout
AFTER THE GAME
Padel:Straight to the Padel Café, no need to leave
Pickleball:Usually a leisure centre, not somewhere you’d stay

“Padel tennis” and “padel” are the same sport, the name comes from its tennis-style scoring, not a different game.

Ready to actually play?

Book your court at The Black Horse, Chesham, then check the venue details and opening hours before you head over.

Frequently asked

Is padel hard to learn if I’ve never played a racket sport?

No. Padel is one of the easiest racket sports to pick up in a single session, the enclosed court means the ball stays in play, so beginners get long rallies from the start. Coaching is available if you want a head start.

What do I need to bring?

Just trainers with a flat, non-marking sole. Rackets, balls and any other kit are available to hire on site, so there’s nothing you need to buy in advance.

Is padel more like tennis or squash?

A bit of both. The scoring and serve come from tennis, the enclosed walls and rebound play come from squash. Most people find that combination easier to learn than either sport on its own.

How many people do I need to play?

Padel is played in doubles, so four players a court is standard. Coming with three mates is ideal, but get in touch if you’re short a player and we’ll help where we can.

Can complete beginners book straight in, or do we need lessons first?

You can book straight in, no lessons required. Coaching is there for anyone who wants it, but plenty of first-timers just turn up and play.

Is padel easier than tennis?

Most people find it is, at least to begin with. The enclosed court means the ball stays in play far more, so you spend your first session actually rallying instead of chasing balls, which is the part beginners usually find hardest in tennis.

What’s a golden point?

It’s how padel usually resolves deuce. Instead of tennis’s advantage system, the next point simply wins the game, sudden death. It keeps close games from dragging on.

Run a pub with space to spare? Bring padel to your pub and turn it into a destination like this one.