The February 2026 English Pickleball Roundup
Welcome to this month’s special feature for World Pickleball Magazine, where we look back at a thrilling February for the sport across England. From top-tier league action and brand-new facilities to grassroots youth programs, the English pickleball scene is hotter than ever.
Premier Pickleball League (PPL) Heats Up
The Premier Pickleball League’s third season is nearing its dramatic conclusion, and team R3 has dominated the competition, holding onto the top spot on the league table since day one. Team manager Karen Crawford praised the squad’s off-court connection as the “magic” fueling their on-court success. Despite missing their singles star and team captain Josh Bright recently, the rest of the roster stepped up—including three-set singles wins from Natasha-Lara Hood and Lauren Gosling, and a shining doubles performance from Ewan Skillicorn and Dan Wren. R3 also bolstered their squad with the strategic addition of Emma Wrixon. The highly anticipated PPL finals are set for the end of March at Hurlands.
Meanwhile, individual accolades were handed out this month, with Matt Lee being named the PPL’s MVP for Match Weekend 5.
New Facilities and Massive Upcoming Events
The infrastructure for English pickleball continues to expand rapidly. It was announced in mid-February that Shildon, County Durham, will be getting its first dedicated indoor pickleball centre. Co-founders Ryan Watson and Chris Moody are transforming an industrial unit on the All Saints Industrial Estate into the “House of Pickleball”. Slated to open in late spring, the facility will feature multiple indoor courts, coaching, leagues, social sessions, and a pro shop to help serve the growing North East community.
Download the full March World Pickleball Magazine
Looking further ahead on the calendar, preparations are well underway for the English OPEN, scheduled for August 11-16, 2026, at the NEC in Birmingham. Billed as the biggest indoor tournament in the world, the event promises 60 Proflex-painted courts and expects to draw players from over 45 countries.
The UK Tournament Circuit and County Clashes
February was an incredibly busy month for local tournaments and inter-county rivalries:
- Inter-County Battles: Surrey Pickleball faced off against the Hertfordshire Pickleball Team in an official Inter-County match, with Hertfordshire utilizing their strong, inclusive squad to secure the overall victory. Meanwhile, Hampshire announced the formation of the HCPT Roses, a new 32-player county team currently scouting top local talent across four age categories (Open, 50+, 60+, and 70+).
- Tournament Highlights: The PIQLBALL Elevations Series hosted a massively successful Foundations and Momentum Tournament at K2 in Crawley, celebrating first-time players and crowning numerous medalists. The first Dinkspace Taunton Open also made waves, drawing over 300 players and featuring a pro competition with cash prizes.
- Minor League & Regional Events: An SPC team struck gold at the Minor League Pickleball team event in Stourbridge, winning the DUPR 14 division in dominant fashion. Additionally, the Bucks Winter Champs wrapped up the month in High Wycombe with a rare gender and mixed doubles category for over-65s, and the 9th Oxon Monthly League Event expanded to eight courts to accommodate 48 eager participants.
Looking Ahead: New competitive circuits were also unveiled, including the Croydon Pickleball Tour 2026, which promises year-round point-chasing action headlined by Pickleball Pro Retreats. Game Set Match (GSM) also ran Valentine’s promotions for their upcoming slate of events, which includes the GSM Doubles in March and the prestigious WPC England tournament in June.
Community Milestones and Junior Development
The heart of English pickleball remains its vibrant community. This month, the Second Deaf Pickleball Festival completely sold out, highlighting the massive demand for inclusive events.
On the coaching and travel front, PSO Travel welcomed back Sam Basford as Head Coach. Basford joins the leadership team alongside Rob Williams and Scott Tawse to help elevate their popular pickleball holiday experiences.
Finally, the next generation is stepping onto the courts in force. The Pickleball Society hosted a fantastic junior tournament for 20 Year 7 and 8 students at Birkdale High School in Southport, with players battling through five matches each to reach an epic final. With schools getting involved and youth passion growing, the future of pickleball in England looks incredibly bright.
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Chris Beaumont is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of World Pickleball Magazine. Chris follows the global game closely, reporting on the latest news, developments, stories and tournaments from all five continents. He also hosts the World Pickleball Podcast, interviewing people at all levels of pickleball. Chris is also an avid player, currently struggling to make the breakthrough from 4.0 to 4.5.