A disused warehouse on an industrial estate has been transformed into a high-end padel court facility – and Ryebridge Construction has played its part in the overall works.
Encourt Padel and Wellness Club has opened at Ventura Park on Colney Street, just outside St Albans, offering seven indoor panoramic padel courts and wellness activities.
Beyond the courts, Encourt offers a complete wellness experience, including a dedicated recovery area featuring a sauna, steam room, jacuzzi and cold plunge facilities, alongside premium changing rooms and amenities. The club also houses a fully equipped performance gym featuring premium Life Fitness equipment, supporting strength, conditioning and recovery under one roof.
Further enhancing the offering is a dedicated Reformer Pilates studio and Wigmore Sports Pro Shop, selling equipment, apparel and accessories for players looking to elevate their game.
Commercial interior project specialists Reluxe Ltd was the main contractor responsible for the overall design coordination, project management, procurement, construction delivery and handover of the facility.
Having previously engaged Ryebridge to successfully work as a subcontractor on previous padel courts, including the landmark facility at Battersea Power Station, their partnership was revived for this latest job.
This time round Ryebridge was tasked with creating a structural steel frame, composite steel decking on a viewing platform, a glass balustrade, two staircases and lightweight concrete slab for the padel courts.
Reluxe managing director Brad Hurter said: “Encourt is a standout example of what can be achieved when ambitious design, specialist delivery and a clear client vision come together. Reluxe was proud to lead the coordination and delivery of a facility that sets a new benchmark for padel and wellness in the UK.”
Ryebridge managing director Sean Scully added: “We are grateful to Reluxe for bringing us in to assist on this remarkable development, and worked closely with them from arriving on site all the way through to handover to ensure we delivered exactly what the client was after.
“This is the latest in a series of padel projects which Ryebridge has been involved in across the country, including others with Reluxe, but the scale and vision of this particular scheme is undoubtedly the most ambitious we have seen.
“We were delighted to play our part in making Encourt’s dream into a reality.”
Built around the philosophy ‘Energise. Elevate. Excel’, Encourt has been designed as a destination where people can train, recover, socialise and connect as part of a thriving community.
Co-founder Hitesh Bhayani said: “Encourt was born from a simple observation - there wasn't a destination in the UK that truly combined exceptional sport, premium wellness and hospitality in one place. Our vision was to create somewhere people could spend an entire day; whether that's playing, training, recovering, dining or connecting with others. More importantly, we're building a community where people come together through sport, wellness and shared experiences.”
Photos by Joe Percy Photography
