Meet Peter Nicol MBE
World Champion Squash Player & Founder of Nicol
Who Is Peter Nicol?
Peter Nicol MBE is one of the greatest squash players the world has ever seen — and the visionary founder behind Nicol, the premier racquet sports club with locations in New York City and Fort Monmouth, Oceanport, New Jersey. Born on April 5, 1973, in Inverurie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, Peter grew up immersed in the world of racquet sports, developing a love for competition and coaching from a young age that would eventually take him to the very pinnacle of the professional squash world.
Today, that same passion for the sport drives everything at Nicol — a club built on world-class coaching, genuine community, and the belief that racquet sports should be accessible to everyone, from total beginners to elite competitors.
A Record-Breaking Professional Career
Peter Nicol's playing career is the stuff of squash legend. Competing on the PSA World Tour from 1992 to 2006, Peter accumulated an extraordinary record of achievement that places him firmly among the all-time greats of the sport:
World Number 1: Peter became the first player from the United Kingdom ever to hold the World No. 1 ranking, reaching the top spot in February 1998. He would go on to hold the world's top ranking for a remarkable total of 60 months — including a continuous 24-month stint from 2002 to 2003 — a testament to his extraordinary consistency and competitive drive.
World Open Champion: In 1999, Peter captured the sport's most coveted title — the World Open — defeating Egyptian superstar Ahmed Barada in the final. It was the crowning achievement of a career defined by relentless ambition and elite performance.
Four Commonwealth Games Gold Medals: Peter is a four-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist, winning the men's singles title in 1998 representing Scotland, and again in 2006 representing England, plus men's doubles gold medals in 2002 and 2006 alongside partner Lee Beachill. His 2006 gold in Melbourne — won just before his retirement — remains one of his proudest career moments.
Two British Open Titles: The British Open is squash's most prestigious national title, and Peter claimed it twice — ending the legendary Jansher Khan's six-year reign in 1998 before winning the title again in 2002.
49 PSA World Tour Titles: Across his 14-year professional career, Peter appeared in 69 PSA World Tour finals, winning 49 titles — including four US Opens, three Tournament of Champions crowns, three consecutive Super Series Finals titles (1999–2001), and two PSA Masters titles.
MBE Honours: In recognition of his outstanding contribution to British sport, Peter was awarded the MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in June 1999 — one of the highest civilian honours in the United Kingdom.
Life After the Tour: From Champion to Coach & Entrepreneur
When Peter retired from professional squash in September 2006, he didn't step away from the sport — he stepped deeper into it. Driven by a mission to grow squash and make racquet sports more accessible to players of all backgrounds, Peter channelled the same competitive energy that made him a world champion into building a new career as a coach, promoter, and entrepreneur.
In the years following his retirement, Peter co-founded SquashSkills — an online coaching platform delivering expert squash instruction from some of the world's top players — and founded Eventis Sports Marketing Ltd, through which he promoted major squash events across the globe. He also served as President of England Squash and Racquetball, advocating for the sport's growth internationally at the highest level.
Peter also worked closely with his father at Nicol Squash and Fitness, a sports club near Aberdeen, Scotland, further deepening his understanding of what it takes to build and run a world-class racquet sports facility.
Coming to America: Building Nicol in New York & New Jersey
Following a move to the United States — where Peter now lives in New York City with his wife, Jess Winstanley — the couple spotted a powerful opportunity: to bring world-class squash coaching to America, and to make it genuinely accessible to everyday players.
Jess brings her own deep roots in the squash world. Her mother, Melissa, served as Tour Director for the World Professional Squash Association in the 1980s, and together with business partner John Nimick, Jess runs some of the biggest PSA World Tour events in the United States — including the iconic Tournament of Champions. The Nicols are a true squash power couple, combining Peter's elite playing pedigree with Jess's formidable business and operational expertise.
In 2021, Peter and Jess opened Nicol Squash in downtown Manhattan — a four-court public squash centre that quickly became one of New York City's most celebrated racquet sports venues. Rather than building an exclusive members-only club, they deliberately created an accessible, public space — offering both membership and pay-and-play options — rooted in the belief that great coaching and great courts should be available to everyone.
Nicol New Jersey: A Pioneering Vision for Racquet Sports
Buoyed by the success of their New York club and inspired by the global explosion of pickleball and padel, Peter and Jess set their sights on something even more ambitious — a first-of-its-kind, multi-racquet sport facility in New Jersey.
The result is Nicol New Jersey, located in the Riverwalk Center in Fort Monmouth, Oceanport, NJ — a 20,000-square-foot premium racquet sports destination offering pickleball, padel, and squash under one roof. With four indoor pro-cushioned pickleball courts, three international-sized squash courts, and two state-of-the-art indoor padel courts — plus outdoor courts and a full events space — Nicol New Jersey is redefining what a racquet sports club can be in the tristate area.
The vision behind Nicol New Jersey is straightforward: the three sports complement each other beautifully. As Peter himself puts it: "The three sports together tie in beautifully. You can cross over and play one one day and another the next. You can go up or down in standard and complexity, depending on how you feel physically. We offer both a hard 45 minutes of squash and an hour of gentle pickleball and social. That's where it's really interesting."
Peter sees pickleball as a welcoming gateway into the broader world of racquet sports — leading players naturally toward the greater complexity and challenge of padel, and ultimately squash. It's a model designed not just to serve existing racquet sports enthusiasts, but to bring entirely new communities into the fold.
World-Class Coaching at Every Level
At the heart of Nicol — in both New York and New Jersey — is Peter's lifelong commitment to coaching. The junior programme at Nicol, developed personally by Peter, caters to young players aged 4 to 18 across all skill levels, with a focus on fun, confidence, and a genuine love of racquet sports. For players with competitive ambitions, Nicol's high-performance programme provides the expert coaching, court time, and competitive pathways needed to pursue collegiate and professional opportunities.
For adults, Nicol offers group classes, individual lessons, open play, leagues, and clinics across pickleball, padel, and squash — all delivered by a world-class coaching team hand-picked by Peter. Whether you're stepping onto a court for the very first time or training toward your next tournament, there is a place for you at Nicol.
Why Play at Nicol?
When you play at Nicol, you're not just joining a club — you're joining a community built by one of squash's greatest-ever champions, and shaped by a genuine passion for making racquet sports accessible, exciting, and transformative for players of every level and background.
Founded by World #1 squash player and World Champion Peter Nicol MBE
World-class coaching for pickleball, padel, and squash — beginners through professional level
Junior programme developed by Peter Nicol for players aged 4–18
Premium facilities: indoor pickleball courts, squash courts, and padel courts in New York and New Jersey
Public club model — welcoming membership and pay-and-play options for everyone
Located in Fort Monmouth, Oceanport, NJ — serving all of Monmouth County, the Jersey Shore, and the greater tristate area
Committed to growing racquet sports communities in New York City and New Jersey
Discover the Nicol difference for yourself.
Visit playatnicol.com to explore our courts, coaching programmes,
and membership options in New York City and Fort Monmouth, New Jersey.