If you’re a London-based skater, you’ll know just how rare a good, flat, smooth, skateable space is. Open areas where skaters can come together throughout the day are not plentiful.
That’s why what’s happening at Bethnal Green Gardens has hit a nerve—sparking concern and protest across generations of skaters.
Bethnal Green Gardens has been a well-used skate spot for years. It’s a large, open, multi-purpose court set within a beautiful green space—it's a location I’ve used many many times over the past three years. BG is the kind of skate spot that many skaters are willing to travel to, because there aren’t many places that can support the kind of technique practice and skill development that requires a sizeable space—suitable for uninterrupted creative flow.
For me, it’s been an invaluable asset for my artistic skating lessons, and JB-style practice. But beyond that, it’s a hub—a place to socialise and connect with other members of the skating fraternity. An important location for influencers to host annual events for our skating community—attracting international skaters to immerse themselves in a uniquely 'London style' skating experience.
➡️ My Artistic Skating lesson with Roger at Bethnal Green Gardens
➡️ Skateday [with Lillie Almond] at Bethnal Green Gardens
➡️ A Roll On London skating event during the summer holiday at Bethnal Green Gardens
A Space That Meant Something
For many skaters, this isn't just another flat surface.
It's a home. A kind of headquarters where you could find other skaters—people you felt safe around [especially the younger female skaters], supported, and a part of a larger community. From five-year-olds to middle-aged skaters like myself and beyond, it welcomed everyone.
It’s by far one of the best skating locations we have—and trust me when I say, there are very few like it.
Bethnal Green Gardens has been a place to unwind, to reset, and to support one another. A place where people could show up, be themselves, and move freely—without being told to leave. For many, it has genuinely been a source of stress release and supported mental wellbeing.
And the truth is, London skaters are used to being moved on. That’s why street skating culture is so strong here. Spaces come and go. Security shows up. Signs go up. Access disappears.
We know the drill!
So when one of the few reliable spots suddenly becomes restricted—without any kind of consultation—it’s not just inconvenient.
It's history repeating itself.
"Bethnal Green Gardens is a rare open space in London that supports free, informal community use. The recent construction of padel courts has reduced the area available for people to gather, be active, and socialise. Losing this space would affect a wide range of people who rely on it for exercise, leisure, and community connection."
~Adam Clarke
What’s Changed?
Recently, Tower Hamlets Council installed a padel court bang in the middle of this well-used, free, shared recreational space.
According to the council, the new padel court instalation is part of a trial to increase participation in sport and improve residents’ health and wellbeing [obviously without due consideration for the wellbeing of us local skaters]. On paper, that sounds great.
But for many in the skating community, it feels like something else entirely—like a strategic move that ultimately discourages roller skating in the area.
"This space isn't just asphalt; it’s a vital sanctuary for community, health, and culture. Replacing a free, grassroots outlet with pay-to-play "elite" sports—without local consultation—is the epitome of aggressive gentrification. Development should work in tandem with locals, not displace them. Trends like Padel come and go, but once you destroy a social fabric, it’s gone forever. We demand coexistence, not a purposeful imposition designed to divide us. Preserve our space."
~Afshin Robin R
The Reality of Skate Spaces in London
Let’s be honest: London doesn’t have nearly enough dedicated skate spaces.
A huge part of skate culture here is about finding space—making something out of nothing. Empty courts, car parks [after operating hours], quiet corners, overlooked areas. That’s how the scene has always been built.
So when a space that works well across so many of its user groups gets repurposed—especially for a sport that requires payment and that no one locally seemed to ask for—it raises a valid question:
Why take from a community that’s already under-served?
"This space has been used by skaters for years, it’s part of our community. There are few places for our sport in London, and this is our most valued outdoor spot. It lets us socialise and exercise for free. Those authorising this only care about money, not how losing this space affects us. We also play basketball and football here, but now they want Padel, an expensive sport that will EXCLUDE everyone who used the park before. It’s heartbreaking to see our community pushed out for profit."
~Luján C
The Padel Problem
Padel is growing fast—no doubt. They say "it’s one of the fastest-growing sports in the UK", I say, nobody's officially done the numbers on the explosive uptake of roller skating in the UK over the past 4 years!
But the issue isn’t the sport itself. It’s how it’s being introduced.
The new court:
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Takes up space that was already well-used
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Is fenced off, limiting access
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Will be bookable and paid, changing the dynamic completely
And here’s what really stands out—while the space was previously full of skaters, early observations suggest the new Paddle court often sits empty.
That contrast doesn’t go unnoticed.
“Can’t You Just Share?”
It’s a fair question.
But here’s the reality: skaters already do share. With footballers, basketball and netball players, cyclists, kids on scooters, skateboarders, fitness enthusiasts, dog walkers—you name it. That’s what makes it a true multi-use space.
A fenced, dedicated court changes all of that.
You can’t skate through it. You can’t flow around it. It interrupts the space entirely.
So it’s not about refusing to share—it’s about losing the ability to.
Community Response
The skating community hasn’t stayed quiet.
A recent petition has already gained over 2,000 signatures, with people rallying to protect the space.
There’s also a deeper concern emerging—whether a traditionally more middle-class sport is being prioritised over an existing, diverse, grassroots community.
And when fences go up, it’s not just about space—it’s about what kind of community we’re choosing to build.
Because when you remove spaces like this, you don’t just displace skaters—you risk marginalising an entire community.
The Fight Isn’t Over
Despite the changes, the message from us skaters is clear:
We’re not going anywhere.
This is bigger than a court. It’s about being seen, being heard, and having the right to exist in the city without constantly being marginalised or pushed out.
And right now, that fight is still playing out in Bethnal Green Gardens. Since the friendly protest by the skaters, it's been reported that the 2nd Paddle Court installation planned may have already been cancelled, with plans to remove the existing court. But, untill we see this happen, we should continue to taken action against this ill considered initative.
If you’d like to support the movement, consider signing the petition HERE and standing with East London’s roller skating community.
Kelly
Cranial Osteopath | Wellbeing Coach | Roller Skate Instructor
🗯️ Is the padel court an innocent attempt to support a growing sport? Or is it a strategic move to stiflle one of East London’s most vibrant, intergenerational skating movements? Tell us in the comments below or, leave us a lil emoji response.
