Episode 125: Mitchell in the Middle

Andy and Robert welcome back Pickleball England’s Karen Mitchell for a packed catch‑up on the state of the sport in England, from rapid growth and the realities of being the official governing body to whether padel is genuinely poaching pickleball players. They dig into what really happened at the 2025 English Open in Telford, ask if the Nationals have now outgrown the venue, and tackle the hot‑button issues around the Nationals registration drama. Karen also lifts the lid on the thinking behind PickleBook, how it’s being received by clubs and players, and what improvements are coming next. It’s an honest, insightful and good‑humoured deep dive into where English pickleball is now—and where it’s heading next.