North-South Divide in UK Pickleball: How Brexit Deepened the Gap in Club Growth and Access

The Brexit Divide: Are Northern England Clubs Lagging Behind the South?
As pickleball gains momentum across the United Kingdom, regional disparities in the sport’s growth have become increasingly difficult to ignore. While the South of England has seen rapid expansion, with new courts, coaching programmes, and structured leagues emerging in counties like Surrey, Hampshire, and Kent, many clubs in the North report slower progress. The question is whether this north–south gap is merely a reflection of historic inequalities, or if it has been exacerbated by recent shifts in the post-Brexit economic landscape.

With local authorities facing uneven funding allocations and access to imported equipment becoming more expensive and less predictable, the sport’s growth trajectory appears uneven. Brexit may not be the sole factor behind these challenges, but for clubs trying to build sustainable programmes in cities like Leeds, Newcastle, and Manchester, it is a variable that cannot be ignored.

Post-Brexit Economics and Sporting Infrastructure
Since the UK’s departure from the European Union, small sporting organisations across England have felt the ripple effects. Import duties, VAT complexities, and customs delays have increased the cost of equipment sourced from abroad — a significant issue for a sport still reliant on international suppliers for paddles, balls, and nets.

Many pickleball paddles used by UK clubs come from US or European manufacturers. Pre-Brexit, these could be imported with minimal administrative burden. Now, clubs in the North — particularly those operating on tighter budgets and without direct supplier relationships — are often forced to pay higher per-unit costs due to smaller orders and fewer options for shared freight.

Southern clubs, often with more established structures and stronger connections to sponsors or commercial suppliers, are more likely to benefit from economies of scale. Larger orders, regional distribution networks, and direct accounts with brands like Selkirk or Franklin give them a financial edge that many Northern clubs cannot match.

Local Government Funding Gaps
The UK Government’s “Levelling Up” rhetoric has yet to fully materialise in practice for grassroots sport. While capital investments have been announced for infrastructure projects in Northern regions, local authorities continue to face significant budget constraints. Leisure centres in towns such as Burnley, Stockton-on-Tees, and Barrow-in-Furness have struggled to maintain existing facilities, let alone support new sports like pickleball.

By contrast, councils in affluent areas of the South East have been better able to integrate pickleball into multi-use centres, often through partnerships with community trusts or private operators. In counties like West Sussex or Berkshire, clubs benefit from newer facilities, more generous programming budgets, and a larger middle-class population with disposable income to pay for court time and equipment.

This imbalance is not new, but Brexit has intensified it. Rising costs of imported sports goods, inflationary pressures on council contracts, and stricter procurement rules post-Brexit have made it harder for underfunded regions to adapt quickly.

Volunteer Fatigue and Organisational Gaps
Another factor slowing growth in the North is the capacity of club volunteers. In many cases, the sport’s expansion relies on a handful of passionate individuals with limited time and resources. Unlike in the South, where some clubs are supported by semi-professional coaching networks and venue managers who see pickleball as a growth opportunity, Northern clubs often operate with minimal administrative support.

In Liverpool and Huddersfield, several clubs have noted that volunteer fatigue is becoming a barrier to consistent programming. With more paperwork required for imports, grant applications, and insurance renewals in the post-Brexit environment, the administrative load has increased. Without funding to hire part-time coordinators or access professionalised club support structures, the burden remains with volunteers who are already stretched thin.

Coaching Access and Certification Bottlenecks
Access to certified coaching has also become a dividing line between North and South. Pickleball England’s accreditation programmes have thus far been concentrated in Southern England, with most in-person sessions held in counties like Oxfordshire, Hampshire, and Surrey. While online modules are available, the practical assessment components often require travel — something that deters club leaders in the North from pursuing certification.

Without locally certified coaches, Northern clubs often rely on peer-to-peer instruction, which, while well-meaning, may limit player development or deter new joiners who prefer structured guidance. In some cases, schools and leisure providers in the North have declined to adopt pickleball sessions because of the lack of insured or DBS-checked instructors nearby.

Case Studies: Divided Outcomes
In Greater Manchester, a promising pickleball initiative at a multi-sport community centre was paused after imported equipment from a European supplier was delayed for over a month due to new customs protocols. The delay disrupted introductory sessions for new players, several of whom did not return once the programme resumed.

Meanwhile, in Hampshire, a club was able to secure a full equipment package within two weeks, thanks to a supplier relationship and shared purchasing arrangement with nearby clubs. The difference in outcome was not due to lack of effort or interest, but structural advantages rooted in geography and post-Brexit logistics.

In Sheffield, a club working with a local disability charity had to cancel plans to expand their inclusive sessions due to the higher-than-expected cost of adaptive paddles, which are now subject to added duties. The charity, already operating under tight financial constraints, could not justify the additional expense.

Levelling the Playing Field
There are solutions available, but they require national coordination. Pickleball England could play a stronger role in redistributing coaching events, facilitating equipment pooling across regions, and advocating for funding parity. A regional support model, akin to what exists in netball or badminton, could help ensure that clubs in the North are not left behind.

Some clubs are already pursuing creative approaches. In Yorkshire, a network of five clubs has begun coordinating bulk orders and court share agreements to reduce costs and optimise facility access. In Tyne and Wear, one club partnered with a local health trust to subsidise paddle purchases in exchange for delivering community wellbeing sessions.

However, these are workarounds rather than systemic solutions. Without a policy shift that recognises the specific post-Brexit burdens faced by grassroots sport in less affluent regions, the growth of pickleball risks becoming geographically lopsided.

Why It Matters
Pickleball’s appeal lies in its accessibility, its low barriers, and its capacity to build community. But if access to the sport begins to mirror the structural inequalities that affect other parts of English society, its democratic potential could be compromised.

Players in the North are no less passionate or capable. What they need is the infrastructure — physical, financial, and organisational — to thrive. The Brexit era has introduced new friction into an already uneven system. It is now up to national bodies, local authorities, and sport equity advocates to ensure that the growth of pickleball does not leave parts of the country behind.

If properly supported, Northern clubs could become not just catch-up players, but pioneers in community-led pickleball. But only if the resources, training, and logistical support flow both ways — not just south to north.