KwaZulu-Natal, 30 April 2026: Gateway Theatre of Shopping will raise the tempo this May with the launch of its inaugural Grand Padel Open, taking place on Friday, 1 May 2026. In collaboration with Virgin Active Padel Club and Edgars, this all-day event is set to attract KZN’s best and most enthusiastic padel players.
Virgin Active Padel Club KZN Regional Manager, Jade Jacobs adds, ‘’At the Gateway Club, we’re passionate about creating an inclusive space for new, current and returning players to experience the magic of padel. It’s set to be a vibrant, fun-filled tournament, and we look forward to hosting everyone on court”.
The Grand Padel Open invites players of all levels, from juniors to seasoned competitors, to step onto the court. With multiple divisions and a cash prize pool of R14 000 up for grabs, the tournament offers a fun way for shoppers to get involved, whether competing or spectating. Entries are now open via Playtomic, making it easy for participants to secure their place and be part of the action.
Mikhail Pillay, Gateway Virgin Active Padel Club Manager, says, “We’re extremely excited for the upcoming Padel tournament at our venue, in partnership with the mall. The energy is building, the courts are ready, and we’re looking forward to a fantastic day filled with competitive spirit, great matches, and an amazing community atmosphere.”
A Packed Programme on and Off the Court
Players can expect an action-packed lineup throughout the day.
The tournament format is as follows:
- Main Tournament: 8 am – 2 pm
- Kids Americano: 2 pm – 4 pm
- Men and Ladies Americano: 4 pm – 6 pm
- Fast 10’s: 6 pm – 9 pm
Beyond the courts, the experience includes a beauty, wellness and fashion component. Edgars will introduce its menswear active range, S Active range by Stone Harbour, a new athleisure collection designed for both performance and everyday style. The range will be brought to life through an interactive exhibition space, with select players, including local padel enthusiast Matty Jones, taking to the court in the new collection. Shoppers will also be able to explore and shop the range on-site, alongside a curated edit of beauty and active lifestyle products.
“We’re excited to bring S Active to life in such an energetic environment. Shoppers can also discover a curated selection of beauty favourites, from globally loved fragrance brands to skincare and cosmetics that complement an active, modern lifestyle,” said Gigi Mott, Customer Experience Executive at Edgars.
Wellness, Style and Added Value Across the Centre
Adding further variety to the experience, Gateway will host a Mind, Body and Beauty experience across the centre. This mall-wide activation will feature popular brands across skincare, fragrance, fitness and fashion, with new launches and special offers.
Shoppers will also get to unlock added value through the Wellness Wallet, a booklet featuring exclusive offers from 20 participating sport, beauty, fashion and wellness stores. The booklet is free and can be collected at the gifting concierge desk (near Starbucks) or the mall’s information desk (near Circus Circus) over the weekend.
Gateway Marketing Manager, Ayesha Sewbaran, says the initiative reflects the centre’s evolving approach to retail.
“We’re evolving the Gateway experience to be more than just shopping. The Grand Padel Open is designed to create a space where energy, connection and lifestyle intersect, giving our shoppers new reasons to visit and engage with the centre. Of course, you need to look and feel good, and beauty plays a huge part in our offering, and those feel-good moments too.”
For more information about Gateway, its stores, experiences, and promotions, visit gatewayworld.co.za or follow the centre on Instagram.