The Bandeja summer 2024 issue

feature
rocket
fuel
Two words spring to mind when
describing my brother - creative
and contagious. This may sound
like sisterly bias, but everyone who
meets him feels the same. Creativity
is key when it comes to creating food
people love but it is his contagiously
positive attitude that keeps
customers coming back for more!
“I have always loved the freedom of
cooking – each time it is different,”
said Jamie, who is excited about
merging café culture with padel.
“It’s the same with serving, you
have to react to the energy of your
consumers and their needs.
“Nutrition has always been at the
forefront of my creative cooking
process and I strongly believe that
healthy can mean delicious. And
padel players need yummy and
nutritious food to allow them to play
their best padel,” he added.
Cheffing
After leaving school Jamie, 22, opted
out of the conventional route of
university and channelled his love for
Jamie Thomas
Rocket Padel has touched down in Ilford, London, delivering the
capital’s biggest padel centre yet with 12 courts - and a food and
drink team headed up by chef Jamie Thomas, who has a passion
for great taste, nutrition and padel! His sister Emily popped in to
catch up with her brother to find out more.
food into a career of private cheffing
around the UK and managing
Michelin Bib Gourmand Restaurant
Queen of Cups nestled in the heart
of Glastonbury, pocketing invaluable
experience of the hospitality trade
along the way.
Growing up in a sport mad family
(mum Sarah represented GB as
a tennis junior and more recently
played in the GB Seniors padel team),
Jamie was exposed to all sorts of
sport, playing to a competitive level
in tennis, hockey and most notably
show jumping. Despite years of
playing padel in the Spanish sun
on family holidays, it was not until
the summer of 2023 that his love for
padel blossomed while working as
a host at Rocket’s hugely successful
pop-up court at Battersea Power
Station, London.
Game on
Armed with an eye for quality,
knowledge of food seasonality and
a passion for building a community
through food, Jamie was ready for his
next challenge and the opportunity to
lead the F&B team at Ilford.
He said: “I have always enjoyed how
food makes people feel. It changes
people’s moods, brings people
together and I love the social aspect
that the food and padel hybrid
brings. It is great to see so many
visitors giving padel a go for the first
time and inevitability as the game is
so addictive, they just keep coming
back. And not least for the Avo Attack
Smoothie – a firm club favourite!”
As well as heading up Rocket’s
catering, Jamie is also a part-time
padel coach, getting to know players
on and off the court and helping to
develop the facility’s all-important
‘club’ feel. The centre encourages
people to treat it like a home-awayfrom-home
– it has a gym, business
meeting rooms, work from home
stations and, of course, the café.
During my visit Jamie and I took to a
court and let our competitive spirits
run riot. Despite a handful of bickers
about me hitting the ball too hard
and Jamie repeatedly explaining
that ‘placement of the ball is more
important than power’ we just about
remained friends and I managed to
knab a free coffee, salad, and even
some cake. Winner!
Curated
It is the first time Jamie has had full
creative cooking freedom and he has
carefully curated a café menu for
easy fuel and refuel options, including
Joe and the Juice-style sandwiches,
staying on-brand with Rocket’s
Scandi roots. From club classics to
salads, cakes and smoothies, there is
something for everyone.
With Jamie are head coach Tom
Charnock (centre) and club
manager Oskar Wynne.
Rocket Padel, Ilford, will have 12 courts (nine doubles, three singles) when
completed imminently. The main building, housing four double courts,
two singles, the cafe, etc. opened first. The remaining seven courts are
housed within an adjacent building with retractable sides connected
to the main building via an Ibiza-style courtyard area. Ilford is Rocket
Padel’ls second UK site. Its first, in Bristol, is the UK’s largest centre with 14
indoor courts. A third - adjacent Battersea Power Station - opens in
a few months with four courts. Bookings are via Playtomic.
“We are a pescetarian and alcoholfree
centre, which was always
important when we were planning
our café lift off,” said Jamie. “And for
all our dishes we try to use similar
ingredients to reduce waste.”
The café also serves Clifton Coffee,
paying homage to Rocket’s first UK
site in Bristol. And the most popular
dish so far, putting aside the Ava
Attack Smoothie [editor’s note: I’ve
tried Avo Attack, it’s great.]
“Our Mature Cheddar and Mexican
Cheese Melt with pickled red onion
and chilli jam panini has been the
real crowd pleaser,” said Jamie.
“However our vision is constantly
evolving with our clientele, we have
lots more exciting foody plans up
our sleeves.
“This is just the beginning of Rocket
Padel, Ilford’s journey and I am keen
to see the centre thrive and grow
and see more people joining the
padel party in the UK. On a personal
level, it has allowed me to follow my
passions for cooking and padel under
one roof.” •
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