Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Padelify is an independent editorial guide to UK padel venues, operated as a sole proprietorship in the United Kingdom by Feroz Baig. We publish venue reviews, a court finder directory, and a weekly newsletter, The Padel Briefing.

This policy applies to padelify.co.uk and describes how we collect and handle personal information. We are the data controller for the purposes of UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.

If you have questions about this policy, contact us at hello@padelify.co.uk.

2. What information we collect

We collect the minimum amount of information necessary to operate the site and newsletter. Here is a precise account of what we collect and how.

• Email address. When you subscribe to our newsletter via the sign-up form on the site, we collect your email address and, if you provide it, your first name. We use Klaviyo to manage newsletter subscriptions and email delivery. Subscription is entirely voluntary.
• Analytics data. We use Google Analytics 4 (property ID G-BSVR2SEN2T) to understand how visitors use the site, which pages are popular, and where traffic comes from. GA4 collects anonymised data including approximate location, device type, browser, and pages visited. IP addresses are anonymised before storage. We do not use this data to identify individuals.
• Server logs. Our hosting provider automatically records standard server log data including IP addresses, user agent strings, referring URLs, and timestamps. This data is used to diagnose technical problems and protect the site from abuse. It is retained for 30 days and then deleted.
• Third-party embed cookies. Venue pages on the site embed Google Maps to show court locations. When you view those pages, Google may set cookies on your device in connection with the Maps embed. These cookies are set by Google, not by Padelify. See our Cookie Policy for more detail.

We do not collect user accounts, passwords, payment information, user-generated reviews or comments, or precise location data. We have no registration or login system.

3. How we use your information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• To send the newsletter. If you subscribe, we use your email address to send The Padel Briefing, our weekly newsletter covering new venue reviews, scene news, and editorial updates. We also send occasional transactional emails relating to your subscription (confirmation, unsubscribe confirmation).
• To understand site usage. Analytics data helps us understand which content is most useful, identify pages that are not working correctly, and improve the site for readers. We do not use this data for advertising or to build profiles of individual users.
• To protect the site. Server log data helps us identify and respond to potential security threats, malicious traffic, or technical failures.

We do not use your information for automated decision-making or profiling. We do not send marketing communications other than the newsletter you explicitly subscribed to. We do not sell your data.

4. Lawful basis for processing

UK GDPR requires us to have a lawful basis for processing personal data. Our bases are:

• Consent (Article 6(1)(a)). We rely on your consent for newsletter subscriptions. You give consent when you complete the sign-up form and submit it. You can withdraw consent at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in any newsletter email, or by emailing us directly. Withdrawing consent does not affect the lawfulness of processing before the withdrawal.
• Legitimate interests (Article 6(1)(f)). We rely on legitimate interests for analytics data and server logs. Our interest is in operating a functional, secure, and improving website for our readers. We have assessed that this interest is not overridden by your privacy rights: the data collected is anonymised or pseudonymised, used only for site improvement and security, and not shared for third-party advertising purposes.

5. Sharing your information

We do not sell or rent your personal information to anyone. We share data only with the following service providers who help us operate the site and newsletter:

• Klaviyo. Our newsletter platform. Klaviyo processes email addresses and newsletter engagement data on our behalf as a data processor. Klaviyo is headquartered in the United States. See the section on international transfers below.
• Google. We use Google Analytics 4 for site analytics and Google Maps embeds on venue pages. Google processes anonymised analytics data and, in connection with Maps embeds, may set cookies on your device. Google operates globally. See the section on international transfers below.

We may disclose personal information if required to do so by law, or if we believe in good faith that such disclosure is necessary to comply with legal process or protect the rights, property, or safety of Padelify, our readers, or others.

We do not share personal information with advertisers, data brokers, or any third party for commercial purposes.

6. How long we keep your information

• Newsletter email address. Retained while your subscription is active. If you unsubscribe, your email address is retained for 30 days to process the unsubscription cleanly, then deleted from our active list. Klaviyo may retain suppression records (a record that you opted out) for longer, to prevent re-subscription by error.
• Analytics data. Google Analytics 4 retains event-level data for 14 months by default. Aggregated reports are retained indefinitely. No personally identifiable information is stored in our analytics account.
• Server logs. Retained for 30 days, then automatically deleted.

7. Your rights under UK GDPR

UK data protection law gives you the following rights in relation to your personal data:

• Right of access. You can request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
• Right to rectification. You can ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete personal data.
• Right to erasure. You can ask us to delete your personal data in certain circumstances (for example, if you withdraw consent and there is no other lawful basis for processing).
• Right to restriction. You can ask us to restrict how we process your data while a dispute about its accuracy or the lawfulness of processing is resolved.
• Right to data portability. For data processed by automated means on the basis of consent or contract, you can request a copy in a commonly used machine-readable format.
• Right to object. You can object to processing based on legitimate interests. We will stop processing unless we can demonstrate compelling legitimate grounds that override your interests.

To exercise any of these rights, email us at hello@padelify.co.uk. We will respond within one calendar month.

If you are not satisfied with our response, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) at ico.org.uk, or by calling their helpline on 0303 123 1113.

8. International transfers

Some of our service providers are based outside the UK. Where we transfer personal data internationally, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place:

• Klaviyo (United States). Klaviyo participates in the UK–US Data Bridge and uses Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) as a lawful transfer mechanism. You can review Klaviyo’s data protection practices at klaviyo.com/legal/privacy.
• Google (United States / Ireland). Google processes Analytics data primarily in the US and EU. Google relies on SCCs and the EU–US Data Privacy Framework for transfers. For data processed in Ireland (Google’s EU base), the UK adequacy decision for EEA data applies. See policies.google.com/privacy.

9. Children’s privacy

Padelify is not directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us and we will delete it promptly.

10. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time to reflect changes in our data practices or legal requirements. When we make material changes, we will note the revised date at the top of the page and, where appropriate, flag the change in The Padel Briefing newsletter.

We encourage you to review this page periodically. Continued use of the site after a policy change constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

11. Contact

For any questions or requests relating to this Privacy Policy, contact Padelify at hello@padelify.co.uk.

Padelify is operated by Feroz Baig as a sole proprietorship in the United Kingdom. We are registered with the ICO as a data controller.