Spearheaded by Dom Williams, Chief Revenue Officer at Mail Metro Media, the event brought together 32 teams from across the UK media landscape, including players from Wavemaker, PHD, IPG, and Paddy Power. Over 150 players and spectators turned out despite a London tube strike and sporadic downpours, underscoring the event’s growing significance and the sport’s surging popularity.

 

The tournament followed a round-robin format, culminating in a thrilling final where Scott Braniff and Ben Walton of Wavemaker edged out Jack Wilson of Paddy Power and former England footballer Joe Cole to claim the Padelfest trophy. The day was filled with competitive matches, branded pop-ups, and a festival-like atmosphere, complete with food, drinks, and music.

 

For Williams, Padelfest was deeply personal. Having suffered a heart attack three years ago, he credited the BHF with his recovery and saw padel as a key part of his rehabilitation. “I couldn’t be prouder of the event we have hosted today. British Heart Foundation is an amazing charity which has supported me and my family in recent years. I’m incredibly grateful for everyone’s efforts, the brilliant day of padel we have enjoyed (even though I lost in the semi-final) and most importantly, to give something back to such an important cause”.

 

Sponsors included Infinitum Entertainment, Calm Media Investments, Wickes, and abbi&me, with BHF hosting a branded activation area to engage attendees and share their mission.

 

Rebecca Honey, Regional Fundraising Manager at BHF, praised the initiative: “Whether you have battled it out on the courts or been one of the event sponsors, you’ve helped make today a smashing success and we’re incredibly grateful. Today you helped raise an amazing £40K for the British Heart Foundation, which will continue to power groundbreaking research to save and improve lives, giving more people, like Dom, more time to live well with loved ones”.

 

Padelfest is expected to return in 2026, with plans already underway to expand its reach and impact.