The next generation of the billionaire Arora family is behind a new development in Manchester that will transform a storage shed into a hub for one of Britain鈥檚 fastest-growing sports.
Sammy Arora co-founded Pure Padel, which opened its first venue in Alderley Park last year and now has ambitious plans to open 30 clubs in the next five years.
The business has won investment from Sammy鈥檚 father Bobby - one of the Arora brothers who transformed B&M Bargains from a small Blackpool business into a retail giant with more than 1,000 B&M and Heron stores across the 海角视频. This year鈥檚 Sunday Times Rich List estimated that siblings Bobby, Simon and Robin Arora were collectively worth some 拢2.5bn.
Their father moved to Manchester in 1947, and started a cash and carry business in Dutton Street, Cheetham Hill, near Victoria station. Now Sammy, 23, is turning his grandfather鈥檚 old building with six panoramic padel courts, a pro-padel shop, a bistro-style caf茅 and bar
He and business partner Fraser Higson have gathered a group of investors including Bobby Arora to support those growth ambitions.
Sammy, who leads commercial operations at Pure Padel, said: 鈥淚鈥檓 excited to combine my entrepreneurialism and love of sport to introduce the first indoor padel club in the north west and I鈥檓 proud to be able to find such a modern and worthwhile use that means my grandfather鈥檚 hard work all those years ago will live on and benefit so many people today.
鈥淜eeping the warehouse in the family has been something I really wanted to do as recognition for my grandfather鈥檚 sacrifices and stealth business acumen all those years ago.
鈥淎s the third generation of Aroras to take over, it鈥檚 both an exciting and challenging time. Embarking on my own entrepreneurial journey having such well known and successful predecessors is not without its pressures, but I鈥檓 grateful for their guidance and am looking forward to the challenge.鈥
Pure Padel has welcomed 4,000 players to its Alderley Park site since opening it in October. The company operates on a 鈥減ay to play鈥 basis without membership fees, with players using an app to match with other players of similar levels.
The company has eight new clubs already at the planning stage, with another 15 in the pipeline. Its directors are planning more expansion across Cheshire, with the Midlands and the South West of London among its target regions.
Sammy Arora took up padel while living in Milan, where he studied at the SDA Bocconi School of Management.
He said: 鈥淚鈥檝e been lucky enough to have been playing padel since getting hooked on it in Milan, where I took it up as a student as it was the best way to meet new people in the city. It鈥檚 fantastic to see such a broad mix of people picking it up, from those who no longer play fast paced racket sports like squash and tennis, or those wishing to step away from work for exercise and to socialise - it鈥檚 clearly taken grip of the nation and we鈥檙e testament to the fact it鈥檚 here to stay.鈥
He added: 鈥淧adel has taken the 海角视频 by storm - and the North West is slowly becoming a padel hub after leaders London and Bristol who set the scene. It鈥檚 partly due to how easy it is to pick up and also the plethora of courts across the region.
鈥淲e hope bringing indoor padel courts to Manchester will help make it even more accessible to those living and working close by. Currently, north Manchester residents are travelling as far as Huddersfield to play so we know there鈥檚 demand for more padel courts in the city centre that are reachable by car and public transport.
鈥淐hoosing a site so close to Victoria train station is a real asset - we hope it鈥檒l help bring players into the city centre who will go on to spend on hospitality and shopping to further support the local economy.
鈥淢anchester鈥檚 cold and wet climate makes our indoor proposition even more attractive to players who are looking to keep up padel year round. The unpredictable weather conditions really impact the game, so a club away from the elements ensures the best playing experience.鈥
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