Mail Metro Media’s inaugural Padelfest raises £40,000 for British Heart Foundation
Former England midfielder Joe Cole stars as 32 media teams compete at Earl’s Court to boost heart research funding
Mail Metro Media’s inaugural Padelfest in London raised £40,000 for the British Heart Foundation (BHF), organisers said, after more than 150 players and spectators turned out for a day of competition and fundraising on Sept. 11, 2025.
The event, staged at Earl’s Court Padel Social Club, attracted 32 teams representing UK media companies and celebrities, with former England midfielder Joe Cole among the players. Wavemaker pair Scott Braniff and Ben Walton defeated Cole and Jack Wilson in the final.
Padelfest was launched in partnership with the British Heart Foundation, the largest independent funder of heart and circulatory research in the UK. Organisers said the tournament was the idea of Dom Williams, Mail Metro Media’s chief revenue officer, who has a personal connection to the charity. Williams said the event grew from a casual idea six months ago into a full-day fundraiser "because of the outpouring of support" from colleagues and industry peers.
"I couldn't be prouder of the event we have hosted," Williams said. He added that the BHF had supported him and his family in recent years and that organising a padel tournament was a way to give something back.
Cole, a former West Ham and Chelsea player, said he discovered padel while on holiday in Dubai and has taken to the sport. "I'd love to play it more but I just don't get the time with football and the kids," the 43-year-old told Daily Mail Sport. Asked to choose between padel and football, Cole said padel was his preference because it is "less invasive on the joints" and that football is "getting harder and harder."
Organisers said the money raised will support the BHF's research and patient services. The charity funds studies into prevention, diagnosis and treatment of heart and circulatory diseases, which remain among the leading causes of death in the UK.
The event also illustrated the rapid growth in padel participation across Britain. Latest figures analysed by the Lawn Tennis Association showed participation in padel has more than trebled in the past year, reflecting a wider surge in interest and investment in the sport.
Mail Metro Media described Padelfest as a single-day launch with the potential to become an annual fixture, citing strong interest from media companies and sponsors. Organisers said they hope the funds raised will both support the BHF's work and raise awareness of heart health while promoting padel as an accessible, social racket sport.