Padel Court Club Manager in Hampshire, Portsmouth

Club Manager — Padel Quarter in Portsmouth, Hampshire. Full-time | Permanent. £33,000–£38,000 base + performance bonus.

Are you the kind of operator who thrives on building something from scratch? Do you get a buzz from turning a blank canvas into a slick, well-run venue? If you're looking for your next challenge — one that gives you genuine ownership, commercial responsibility, and the chance to be part of something brand new — this could be the role for you.

About Padel Quarter: Padel Quarter is an exciting new padel club launching in Portsmouth; part of the fastest-growing sport in the world. We're building a premium venue that combines high-quality padel courts with a great café, pro shop, events programme, and a genuinely welcoming club community.

The Role: As Club Manager, you'll be the operational heartbeat of the club. From the moment the doors open to the last court session of the day, you'll be the person who makes sure everything runs smoothly and when it doesn't, you'll be the one who fixes it.

This isn't a role for someone who wants to maintain the status quo. We're a start-up, which means you'll be building processes, systems, and standards largely from the ground up. You'll have real autonomy, genuine influence, and the support of a hands-on ownership team who are invested in getting this right.

Key responsibilities include:

• Operations & Facility Management
• Running the day-to-day operation of the club — opening, closing, and everything in between.
• Overseeing the café — stock, suppliers, presentation standards, service quality, and food hygiene compliance.
• Managing the booking system and keeping court schedules running smoothly.
• Acting as Safety Officer, ensuring full compliance with health, safety, and licensing obligations.
• Licensing & Alcohol Compliance
• Supporting the Designated Premises Supervisor to ensure the club operates in full compliance with its Premises Licence.
• If you don't yet hold a Personal Licence, we'll support you to get one.
• People, Rotas & Unmanned Hours
• Building and managing a staff rota that delivers cost-effective cover seven days a week.
• Recruiting, inducting, and developing a front-of-house team you're proud of.
• Managing the club during unmanned operating periods — being the point of contact for security issues or emergencies when the site isn't fully staffed.
• Start-Up: Building the Foundations
• Identifying what processes, systems, and SOPs the club needs — and building them.
• Contributing to the selection and set-up of operational tools including booking platforms, EPOS, and stock management.
• Reviewing, iterating, and improving constantly — nothing will be perfect on day one and that's fine.
• Working with the Directors to prioritise improvements and flag issues early.
• Commercial Performance & Growth
• Actively driving the profitability of the club through promotions, events, competitions, socials, and commercial activations.
• Playing an active role in future development projects, including the planned expansion to outdoor courts.
• Providing regular operational reporting to the Directors.

What We're Looking For:

We need someone who has done this before — or something very close to it — and who is ready to take on the full scope of the role.

Essential:

• Proven operational or general management experience in leisure, hospitality, or sport.
• Experience running a café, bar, or food and beverage operation, including food hygiene compliance.
• Strong rota management skills across a seven-day, multi-function operation.
• Comfortable in a start-up or fast-moving environment — you know how to create structure where there isn't any yet.
• Confident people manager — able to recruit, develop, and hold a team accountable.
• Commercially minded and proactive — you look for opportunities, not just problems.
• Solid understanding of health, safety, and licensing obligations in a public-facing venue.
• Flexible — evenings, weekends, and the occasional emergency call are part of the deal.

Desirable:

• Personal Licence qualification (APLH or equivalent).
• Experience opening or launching a new venue.
• Familiarity with venue management or booking software.
• Food hygiene qualification (Level 2 or above).
• First aid qualification.
• A passion for padel, racquet sports, or the wider leisure and fitness industry.

What's on Offer:

• £33,000–£38,000 base salary, with performance bonus opportunity.
• A genuine start-up opportunity — real ownership and influence from day one.
• A supportive, hands-on ownership team who want to build something exceptional.
• The chance to be part of the fastest-growing sport in the world at ground level.
• Future development opportunities as the club grows.

How to Apply:

To apply, please send your CV and a brief covering note telling us why this role is right for you and what you'd bring to Padel Quarter. Padel Quarter is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team.