- Earls Court will be London’s newest hotspot for competitive socialising with the arrival of Padel, boules and beach rugby open to all members of the public
- In celebration of the Rugby World Cup, visitors will also be able to enjoy free outdoor live screenings of key matches at Empress Space
- The activities, brought forward by The Earls Court Development Company, celebrate Earls Court's legacy of hosting world-class sporting events
This autumn, Earls Court will be home to three competitive socialising activities – Padel, boules and beach rugby. The new facilities will provide opportunities for local people and Londoners to partake in and enjoy sport.
A city beach has been installed on Empress Space which is being programmed with free tag rugby tournaments, children’s rugby coaching sessions and Rugby World Cup fan zones screening key Rugby World Cup matches for free. Fans will be able to gather with friends and enjoy the games on the big screen, alongside a lively atmosphere with drinks from the bar and an array of delightful food options. The beach rugby programme is being delivered in collaboration with PlayaX, a rugby social club co-founded by former England Rugby international Paul Sampson.
The beach will remain open throughout the week as a free, public space for the local community to enjoy. Beach rugby is a 5 a-side, ten-minute tag rugby game. The most inclusive of any team sport, it suits all ages and abilities – the sand is a perfect leveller allowing all players to fully enjoy the experience.
An outdoor Padel showcase court, in collaboration with Padel Social Club, will also be open on site from today. Padel, the world’s fastest growing sport, is often described as a mix of tennis and squash and is an all-inclusive sport accessible to everyone. Padel Social Club pride themselves on building inclusive Padel communities where everyone from die-hard players to first timers are welcome to play and socialise. The showcase court will sit alongside the Padel Social Club bar and social areas where players and spectators are welcome to relax before and after their games.
To bring a touch of French tradition to Central London visitors will also be able to make the most of free-to-play boules courts. In collaboration with London business, Jack & Boule, Earls Court’s unique boules courts will be open to the public on a first come first served basis every Friday, Saturday and Sunday until the end of October. Fun for all ages and skill levels, boules makes for a fantastic sport of skill, patience and tactics as players can outplay their competitors to get their ball closest to the target and knock their rivals out of the way. A pop-up bar serving Siren Craft Brew beers, Cider, Prosecco, Bellinis, draught Pimm's, and a selection of soft drink, will also be on site provided by Jack & Boule.
The new sporting facilities are a great addition to Empress Space, a dynamic public space in Earls Court, which is also home to the groundbreaking BBC Earth Experience, food trucks from rotating vendors, and captivating public art by Baker & Borowski.
Rob Heasman, CEO of The Earls Court Development Company said:
“This autumn, we are continuing to honour the rich tradition of sports and entertainment that have defined Earls Court. The site has been home to not one but two Olympic games, and it’s fantastic we’re able to build on this sporting legacy by bringing Padel, boules and beach rugby to site, alongside further plans in motion which we look forward to announcing later this year.”
Beach Rugby
Every Saturday and Sunday for seven weeks, starting 16 September 2023
- Time: 11am – 4pm
- Location: Empress Space, Earls Court, SW6 1TT
- Bookings can be made directly here.
Rugby World Cup Screenings
Starting 23 September for six weekends
- Time: 4pm – 10pm
- Location: Empress Space, Earls Court, SW6 1TT
- Key match screenings will be listed on the ECDC website here.
Boules Courts
Courts open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday for seven weeks, starting 16 September 2023
- Time: 11am – 4pm
- Location: Empress Space, Earls Court, SW6 1TT
- Cost: Free to play, first come first served
Padel Courts
Courts open 20 September. Bookings can be made directly here.
- Location: Empress Space, Earls Court, SW6 1TT
- Cost: £60 per hour (£15 per person)
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