True Padel is at the heart of one of the fastest-growing sports in the world. Founded in 2023 and based in Durham, True Padel quickly established itself as the North East’s leading name in Padel Tennis.

Their flagship facility in Durham, the region’s largest indoor premium padel venue, set the standard for the sport in the area. Now, with the opening of their second site in Sunderland, they are continuing to break new ground—bringing Padel to an even wider audience.

But turning an ambitious vision into a reality isn’t just about securing a site—it requires the right legal expertise to navigate the complexities of commercial property agreements. That’s where we came in.

The Situation: A Major Expansion with High Stakes

As True Padel continued to grow, they identified a vacant unit in Sunderland as the ideal location for their next venue. The 23,331 sq ft unit would allow them to create a cutting-edge indoor Padel facility with additional amenities, including a bar, café, shop, and office space.

However, securing the property was far from straightforward. True Padel needed to enter into a 15-year lease, but with such a long-term commitment, every detail had to be carefully negotiated. They needed assurance that the landlord would carry out essential works before the lease commenced, a watertight agreement to protect their interests, and clear terms for future expansion.

On top of that, they wanted an option agreement for an adjacent unit—allowing them to expand further if needed, without the risk of losing the space to another tenant. With complex lease negotiations ahead and significant financial commitments at stake, True Padel turned to Swinburne Maddison to ensure everything was done right.

The Solution: Expert Legal Support for a Complex Regeneration

Led by Victoria Walton, our Commercial Property team worked closely with True Padel to ensure their lease and expansion plans were secured on the best possible terms. Our approach was meticulous, ensuring that every element of the agreement worked in their favour.

1. Structuring the Agreement for Lease

To safeguard True Padel’s interests, we advised on and negotiated an Agreement for Lease, which bound both parties to a clear timetable. This was essential in ensuring that the landlord’s works were completed to True Padel’s satisfaction before the lease was signed—avoiding any unexpected delays or additional costs.

2. Negotiating Lease Terms & Business Protections

We carried out a detailed review and negotiation of the lease documents, ensuring that True Padel’s interests were protected at every level. Key elements included:

• Guarantor Liability Negotiations – We worked to limit financial exposure by ensuring that the liability of the personal guarantor would be capped and released entirely after five years, once a corporate guarantor was in place.
• Licence for Alterations – Given the scale of the fit-out required, we ensured True Padel had the flexibility they needed to transform the space into a world-class Padel venue.

3. Futureproofing Growth with an Option Agreement

To support True Padel’s ambitious growth plans, we also secured an option agreement for the lease of the adjoining unit. This allowed them to expand further on pre-agreed terms when the time was right.

We ensured that the agreement protected True Padel’s ability to:

• take possession of the unit as soon as possible.
• Avoid competition for the space, ensuring their long-term vision for Padel in the North East remained secure.

With every element of the deal in place, the lease was successfully completed in September 2024.

The Results: True Padel Expands with Confidence

True Padel has successfully secured their Sunderland venue, strengthening their position as the leading force in Padel Tennis in the North East.

Their new facility offers:

• Offer a state-of-the-art indoor Padel experience
• Expand their community of players
• New social and retail elements with a café, bar, and shop
• The ability to futureproof their business with the option to expand further

Following the success of this deal, we were re-engaged by True Padel to assist with the acquisition of further leases—helping them continue their ambitious expansion across the region.