Rocket Padel Ilford

Premium and prestigious, with a green colour scheme throughout, eleven courts including covered outdoor ones so rain is never a problem, some of the best changing rooms I've seen, and tournament-grade panoramic glass. A real family club: specialised junior coaching, beginners through to mid-forties, welcoming enough that I set up my laptop and worked for an hour without feeling out of place. There's a gym, a top-tier cafe, even a workspace. The one thing to know: no alcohol anywhere, only coffee and juices. Where its sister club Beckton has a full bar and stronger players, Ilford is the place to bring the family, learn, and improve, not to drink after.