OakNorth provides £10m loan to Longshot for Mad Swans development

OakNorth has provided a £10m loan to Longshot III Ltd to accelerate Mad Swans, a leisure concept that converts underperforming countryside golf clubs into multi-activity destinations that include pickleball among their core offerings. The funding will enable further development of two flagship sites planned for the Mendips and the South Downs, bringing new rural options for court play, social sessions, and family-friendly sport.

Mad Swans combines leisure, sport, hospitality, and wellness in a single offer. Each site will feature a redesigned 12-hole golf course, alongside a range of activities including padel, pickleball, driving ranges, eco-cabins, and destination dining, together with boutique accommodation and a wellness offering. The concept is rooted in Longshot’s belief that traditional leisure spaces can be reimagined for modern lifestyles - welcoming all ages, fitness levels, and backgrounds.

OakNorth described the loan as part of a continuing partnership with Longshot’s leadership. Deepesh Thakrar, Managing Director of Debt Finance at OakNorth, said: “Joel and Ollie are serial innovators in the leisure and hospitality space, and world class entrepreneurs. Their latest venture in Mad Swans challenges the status quo of golf and wellness, bringing together lifestyle, sport, and hospitality in a way that’s relevant and inspiring. The team’s vision, track record, and execution speak for themselves, and we’re delighted to deepen our partnership as they scale.”

Longshot is led by hospitality and property entrepreneur Joel Cadbury alongside Ollie Vigors. Longshot has roots dating back to 1994 and develops, owns, and operates leisure facilities including restaurants, children’s educational entertainment centres, health and fitness clubs and media clubs. Joel Cadbury commented on the relationship with OakNorth: “OakNorth has been a true partner to us for several years – supportive, strategic, and commercially minded at every stage. From Bel & The Dragon to Beaverbrook and now Mad Swans, they’ve backed our vision and moved at the pace entrepreneurs need.” He added: “OakNorth has been a true partner to us for several years – supportive, strategic, and commercially minded at every stage. From Bel & The Dragon to Beaverbrook and now Mad Swans, they’ve backed our vision and moved at the pace entrepreneurs need. For hospitality entrepreneurs that want to move at speed with a banking partner that will genuinely be there come rain or shine, there’s no other bank we’d recommend other than OakNorth. We’re thrilled to have their continued support as we bring something genuinely new to the UK’s leisure landscape.”

The development will centre on two flagship sites billed as Mad Swans in the Mendips and Mad Swans in the South Downs. Specific site locations named for the projects are Farrington Gurney in the Mendips and Alton on the South Downs. OakNorth framed itself as the digital bank for entrepreneurs, by entrepreneurs, and positioned the loan as support for an entrepreneurial leisure operator scaling a new format.

For pickleball players and club organisers, Mad Swans represents expanded rural court capacity and a chance to seed new local circuits, socials, and weekend events in countryside settings with on-site dining and accommodation. Watch local planning notices and site announcements for details on planning status, court availability, and opening timelines. The financing clears a key development hurdle, but confirmation of exact timings, court counts, and operational details will come as Longshot moves the projects through planning and construction.