Pickledilly
Circus
Milton Keynes · Est. 2024
Milton Keynes' pickleball club for everyone. Social play, competitive development and junior pathways, all under one big top.
A club born from a game turned to passion
Pickledilly Circus was founded by a family who fell head over heels for pickleball, and couldn't keep it to themselves. When Paul and Julia Oprea discovered the sport, it took hold fast: within months all three of them, including son Sebastian, were competing across the UK.
The club is built on a simple belief: pickleball should be accessible to everyone, whether you're a complete beginner, a competitive player, or a junior just starting out. Every penny we generate goes straight back into growing the sport and the people who play it.
Everyone's welcome
No barriers to entry. Whether you've never held a paddle or you're chasing a national title, there's a place for you here. Sessions are kept affordable to cover our costs, nothing more.
Coached by competitors
Paul and Julia are both Level 1 Pickleball England certified coaches and active tournament players. You'll learn from people who are still in the game.
Profits reinvested
Our CIC structure means surplus is reinvested into facilities, coaching, equipment, and junior development. Not into anyone's pocket.
Three acts, one big top
Social Play
Show up, play, belong
Pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world, and for good reason. It's social, accessible, and instantly addictive. Our open sessions are designed for everyone: beginners welcome, no partner needed, just bring yourself.
- ★Saturday social play at Shenley Brook End
- ★Ladies-only sessions every Friday
- ★Beginners always welcome
- ★First-come, first-served booking
Competitive Development
Raise your game
For players who want more than rallies: who want to compete, improve, and represent. We organise our own tournaments, help members enter national events, and provide structured coaching pathways to take your game to the next level.
- ★Our own tournaments: Pickle Treat, Easter Cup, Winter Cup, Summer Cup
- ★Festival of Courts 2026, open for registration now
- ★Support entering Pickleball England events
- ★Structured coaching by L1-certified coaches
Junior Development
The next generation
Juniors are the future of pickleball in the UK. We are passionate about giving young players the coaching, competition, and community they need to excel. Our own Sebastian Oprea competes at national level, proof that elite junior development is at the heart of who we are.
- ★Dedicated junior sessions, all ages welcome
- ★DBS-checked, safeguarding-trained coaches
- ★Pathways to Pickleball England junior competitions
- ★Home to national junior competitor Sebastian Oprea
Come and play with us
We run sessions across several venues through the week, for players of all levels, from first-timers to seasoned competitors.
Friday
Ladies Only
9:30am – 11:30am
Cranfield University Sports Hall
College Rd, Cranfield, Bedford
- ★Dedicated session for women of all abilities
- ★Supportive, welcoming atmosphere
- ★Great for first-timers and returners
Friday
Intro Session
11:30am – 12:30pm
Cranfield University Sports Hall
College Rd, Cranfield, Bedford
- ★For complete beginners, no experience needed
- ★Small groups of 4, structured introduction to the game
- ★Available on request, contact us to arrange
Friday
Advanced Squad
2:00pm – 4:00pm
Batchwood Golf and Sports Centre
Batchwood Drive, St Albans, AL3 5XA
- ★For advanced players, by invitation only
- ★Structured drills and competitive matchplay
Saturday
Junior Session
11:30am – 12:30pm
Shenley Brook End School
Walbank Grove, Shenley Brook End, MK5 7ZT
- ★Open to junior players of all abilities
- ★Coached sessions in a safe, supportive environment
- ★DBS-checked, safeguarding-trained coaches
Saturday
Social Play
11:30am – 1:30pm
Shenley Brook End School
Walbank Grove, Shenley Brook End, MK5 7ZT
- ★Open to all levels, a little prior experience helps. New to pickleball? Try an intro session first.
- ★Paddles available on request
- ★Arrive ready to play and ready to smile
Ready to play?
Book your spot through Picklebook and come and play. New faces are always welcome.
We don't just play. We host
Pickledilly Circus runs its own tournaments and festival days, open to players of all levels from across the pickleball community. A growing calendar of events, with something new always on the way.
Our brackets are set by skill, not by age. Juniors compete with and against adults on equal terms, judged purely on ability. We believe that's what a truly inclusive sport should be.
… and more
See all events →Festival of Courts
One day only
- Saturday, 17 October 2026
- Cranfield University Sports Hall, Bedford MK43 0AL
- Multi-bracket play, skill-matched for all levels
- All ages welcome, 110+ players expected
- 8 hours of play, relaxed non-DUPR format
Get to know us
A family who fell in love with pickleball and built a club so everyone else could, too.
Julia Oprea
Founder & Head Coach
Julia founded Pickledilly Circus with a clear purpose: to make pickleball genuinely accessible, for women, beginners, and juniors who might otherwise never find the sport. A Pickleball England Level 1 certified coach working towards L2, she leads the coaching programme and competes nationally, bringing that experience back into every session.
- ★Pickleball England L1 Certified Coach
- ★2024 English Nationals: Bronze, Women's Doubles 3.5
- ★Founder, Pickledilly Circus
Paul Oprea
Co-Founder & Competitor
Paul co-founded Pickledilly Circus, though he's quick to credit Julia with driving most of it. He is most at home on court competing, with a preference for singles. He's tested himself in major tournaments, and partnering Sebastian in adult events puts one of the club's own beliefs into practice: on court, skill matters more than age.
- ★Pickleball England L1 Certified Coach
- ★Co-founder, Pickledilly Circus
Sebastian Oprea
Co-Founder & Junior Ambassador
Sebastian picked up a tennis racket at five and began competing at eight. When he discovered pickleball, he took to it immediately, rising to become one of the UK's top junior players. He's living proof that when you build the right environment for juniors, the results follow.
- ★2026 Young Persons Championship: Gold (12U Boys Singles), Silver (Mixed Age Doubles, with Kai Santano)
- ★2025 Young Persons Championship: Gold (Mixed Doubles, with Isla Culiford), Bronze (Singles)
- ★2025 English Nationals: Silver (Singles 13-14), Bronze (Doubles 3.5)
- ★2024 English Open: Silver (U13)
Life at the club
Moments from our courts and the community around them.
Ready to step into the ring?
Joining the club is free. Sessions have a small fee to cover venue hire and running costs, kept as low as possible so everyone can play.
Get in touch
Phone
+44 7462 459132Facebook
@pickledillycircus24Instagram
@pickledillycircusmk
What to expect
- ★No paddle? We'll lend you one to get started.
- ★Beginner-friendly sessions every week
- ★Friendly, competitive community atmosphere
- ★Coaching available from certified instructors
- ★Junior sessions for young players of all ages
- ★A club that puts people before profit