The Brief
A padel club in Leicestershire required a bespoke container-based facility to accommodate its café, bar and toilet facilities. The project involved supplying and modifying multiple new shipping containers to create a practical, durable and visually consistent space that complemented the modern sporting environment. The scope included structural modifications, bi-fold doors, personnel access doors, a raised deck and staircase, insulation, internal studwork, and a black exterior finish across the units.
The Challenge
The main challenge was transforming multiple shipping containers into a functional hospitality space suitable for the demands of a busy padel club. The containers needed significant structural modifications to accommodate large openings for bi-fold doors, providing an open and accessible environment for the café and bar areas. The two 40ft containers required the removal of two sides, installation of structural box-section steelwork, and the creation of large apertures while maintaining the necessary structural integrity.
Additional requirements included providing accessible entry, safe access to the raised deck area, suitable internal insulation, and a consistent black finish across all units. All containers also needed to be linked and sealed on site to create a cohesive installation.
Our Solution
Various 20ft and 40ft new shipping containers were supplied and modified to meet the project’s requirements including.
Three new 20ft containers:
- 14ft aperture reinforced with a box-section frame
- Four-section bi-fold door measuring 3,580mm x 2,110mm
- Three-section bi-fold door measuring 2,780mm x 2,110mm
- 10-point locking personnel door
- Repainted black
Two new 40ft containers:
- The removal of two sides
- Installation of box-section steelwork
- The creation of 4m x 2.1m apertures for bi-fold doors
- A disabled-access personnel door and a standard personnel door, each with a 10-point locking systems
A bespoke deck was also manufactured using 150 x 50 x 3mm steel sections and 4mm durbar plate, complete with 40 x 40 box-section handrails and a 13-tread staircase. All units received 75 x 50 CLS stud framing and 75mm Rockwool insulation, providing an insulated internal structure, and were all repainted black, linked together and sealed on site to create an integrated facility.
The Result
The completed project delivered a bespoke, multi-container facility for the padel club in Leicestershire, bringing together its café, bar and toilet accommodation within a coordinated installation. The combination of large bi-fold door openings, reinforced structural frames, and a raised deck created a functional layout suited to a modern sports and hospitality environment. Personnel access doors provided dedicated entry points, while the insulated studwork helped prepare the internal spaces for their intended use. Finished in black throughout, the containers achieved a uniform, contemporary appearance that complemented the club’s setting. With the units linked and sealed on site, the project provided a cohesive container-based solution tailored to the needs of the venue.
