UK’s First Floating Padel Courts in Liverpool Cleared for Launch 2026

Key Points

• Premises Licence has been issued by Liverpool Council for the UK’s first floating courts of padel at Princes Dock, Liverpool Waters.
• The project will include three floating courts that are built on a platform designed in Finland and built in Spain.
• Operating hours for the courts are 7am–midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, while Sunday to Thursday will have operating hours from 7am–10pm, along with alcohol available for sale from midday.
• Phase one will consist of two courts, a food and beverage facility, and retail space, and another court and clubhouse expansion are planned later in 2026.
• This initiative is a joint venture of Peel Waters and Padel Ventures under the name Vibora Liverpool Waters.

Liverpool Council (Liverpool standard) September 23, 2026 – Liverpool’s docklands are set to host Great Britain’s first floating padel destination after operators secured a vital premises licence from Liverpool Council, clearing the final major regulatory hurdle before opening. The venue, Vibora Liverpool Waters, will sit within Princes Dock at Liverpool Waters and combine multiple floating padel courts with a waterfront clubhouse, creating a setting where the experience extends beyond the game itself.

What are the floating padel courts in Liverpool docklands?

The floating padel courts are a one-of-a-kind sports facility planned for Princes Dock, featuring three courts built on a special floating platform imported from Finland, with the courts themselves manufactured in Spain. As reported by the Liverpool Echo, the project was granted planning permission last year by Liverpool Council, with hopes of a summer opening, and has now obtained a premises licence that sets out detailed operating terms.

Padel, a racket sport combining elements of tennis and squash and typically played in doubles, has seen rapid growth across Liverpool in recent years, with new courts appearing across the city as local players embrace the trend. The floating concept is intended to capitalise on this boom while offering a distinctive waterfront experience unique in the UK.

How will the floating padel venue operate and what are the licensing terms?

Operators submitted a licensing bid that outlines how the courts and associated clubhouse will function, including opening hours and alcohol sales. According to the Liverpool Echo, officials have obtained a premises licence with Peel seeking terms to open from 7am to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, with alcohol sold from midday until close. From Sunday to Thursday, the courts would open from 7am to 10pm, with alcohol sales available from midday until closing time.

The facility will include a bar and kitchen with a decked seating area, allowing players and spectators to socialise on the water, alongside a small specialist retail store located within the clubhouse. Pay-and-play options, corporate memberships and private hire of the courts will be available when the venue opens.

When will the floating padel courts open and what is included in phase one?

It is hoped the first phase of the development will open later this month, comprising two floating padel courts, a food and beverage offering and retail space. The third floating court and clubhouse extension will follow later this year, completing the three-court layout originally approved under planning permission.

Construction has officially begun on the Vibora Liverpool Waters destination, with the two-phase Princes Dock development designed to offer pay-and-play floating courts and a waterfront clubhouse serving craft beers and cocktails. The venue is being positioned as an iconic, must-visit padel destination for both enthusiasts and general spectators.

Who is behind the floating padel project and what do they say about it?

The project is a collaboration between Peel Waters and Padel Ventures, with James Whittaker, managing director of Peel Waters, speaking last year when the project was first announced. As reported by the Liverpool Echo, Whittaker said:

“We are really pleased to be bringing the UK’s first floating padel courts to Liverpool Waters.”

He added:

“This floating concept demonstrates the open approach we have at Peel Waters to welcoming innovative, new ideas and collaborating with forward-thinking businesses to use our portfolio as a testbed for unique, UK-first activations on water and the surrounding land.”

Whittaker emphasised the social side of the sport, stating:

“Padel is a fantastic, accessible activity and the social side of the sport is of utmost importance to us.”

He continued: “We have thousands of residents, workers and visitors already on site at Liverpool Waters and we are constantly looking at new ways to connect-up the community and new activities for them to experience.” According to Whittaker, the new facility will encourage more socialising, friendship forming and opportunities for the area.

What concerns were raised before the licence was granted?

Before the licence was granted, the project faced a crunch hearing with Liverpool Council’s licensing and gambling sub-committee, following objections related to safety and alcohol sales on a water-based premises. As reported by the Liverpool Echo, an objector said in a written submission:

“I don’t think it’s a good idea to sell alcohol on premises based on water unless extremely high safety standards are established.”

The objector added: “Make sure that access to the water is completely restricted.” The committee hearing was held on September 23, 2026, after which the premises licence was granted with the operating conditions outlined above.

Background: How did the floating padel courts development come about?

Plans for the UK’s first floating padel court were granted planning permission last year by Liverpool Council to sit within Princes Dock, with hopes of a summer opening. The proposal emerged as part of a wider boom in padel across Merseyside, with multiple new court projects announced in 2026, including indoor facilities and additional clubs in Crosby and Ellesmere Port.

The floating concept was developed to leverage Liverpool Waters’ waterfront setting and to test innovative activations on water, according to Peel Waters. Work began on the Vibora Liverpool Waters site in late summer 2026, with the first phase targeted for a September opening and the full three-court venue to be completed later in the year.

Prediction: How could this development affect local residents, players and businesses?

If the venue opens as planned, the floating padel courts could attract additional visitors to Liverpool Waters, benefiting nearby hospitality and retail businesses while offering a new leisure option for residents and workers on site. For local players, the facility may increase access to padel in a distinctive setting, potentially accelerating participation in a sport that has already seen rapid court construction across the UK in 2026.

For Peel Waters and the wider docklands regeneration, the project could reinforce the area’s profile as a testbed for innovative leisure concepts, supporting footfall and community engagement objectives. However, ongoing attention to safety standards on the water, particularly regarding alcohol service and restricted access, will remain important to maintain public confidence and regulatory compliance.