This summer, families across Portsmouth are in for treat!
Registered charity and social enterprise BH Live has rolled out another bumper timetable of activities and attractions guaranteed to keep kids of all ages moving, smiling, and entertained throughout the holidays, come rain or shine.
BH Live is committed to helping children and young people stay active, social, and healthy. With an expanded range of junior activities available at BH Live Active centres across the city, there’s something for young people of all ages and abilities.
This year’s summer highlights include:
- Swimming crash courses to help young people build their skills and confidence in the water
- Multi-sports holiday camps packed with variety and excitement
- Tennis camps and taster sessions for budding young players
- Gymnastics workshops and sessions for all skill levels
- Family and junior gym sessions including Family Gym, Junior Hip Hop, and many more
With classes and activities tailored for babies, preschoolers, and juniors up to the age of 17, family and junior classes are a great way for young people to stay active, make friends, and try something new.
Dive into AquaDash!
Visitors aged 8+ can tackle the thrilling AquaDash! pool attraction at the Mountbatten Leisure Centre. This inflatable aqua obstacle course is a guaranteed summer favourite with a hump, demolition ball, basher wall, and a 5ft splash slide to overcome.
Additional public swim sessions, including Wet & Wacky, have also been added to Mountbatten Leisure Centre’s swim timetable.
Reach new heights with Clip ‘N Climb!
Create unforgettable memories this summer with the recently reopened Clip ‘N Climb facility at Mountbatten. With seven thrilling climbing walls for visitors of all climbing abilities, Clip ‘N Climb is perfect for sunny days as well as wet ones.
Go wild at Exploria!
At Pyramids in Southsea, Exploria – Portsmouth’s largest indoor soft play and bounce attraction – is running multiple daily Play & Bounce sessions. Expect slides, foam pits, climbing zones, interactive games, and loads of energy-burning fun in a colourful, safe environment.
Committed to inclusivity
BH Live is dedicated to ensuring every child can join the fun.
- Exploria SEN sessions offer a calmer environment with reduced noise and lighting, plus access to two dedicated sensory rooms featuring stimulating lights, textures, and sounds.
- There are SEN Family Fun sessions at Portsmouth Gymnastics Centre. SEN swim sessions take place every Saturday at Charter Community Sports Centre.
This year, BH Live is additionally celebrating the largest delivery of HAF (Holiday Activities and Food Programme Funding) funded activity sessions across Portsmouth. Offering healthy meals and engaging activities for children aged 5–16, the funded spaces are offered to children in receipt of benefits-related free school meals
Funded through Portsmouth City Council’s HAF Fun Pompey scheme, the sessions are designed to inspire more young people to get active during the school holidays at BH Live Active centres across the city at no cost.
More information about the sessions, including eligibility and how to book, is available at pycportsmouth.co.uk/haffunpompey.
BH Live Active’s activity timetables, centres, opening times, and facilities vary by centre.
For more information and to book sessions, visit the BH Live Active app, bhliveactive.org.uk, or exploria.org.uk.
Mountbatten Leisure Centre, Pyramids (including Exploria), Charter Community Sports Centre, Portsmouth Tennis and Gymnastics Centre, and Wimbledon Park Sports Centre are owned by Portsmouth City Council and operated in partnership with BH Live.
On behalf of BH Live, Bobby Cole, Group Swim & Junior Activities Manager, shared;
“We’re thrilled to be offering such a diverse range of fun, inclusive and affordable activities for children and families across the city this summer. Whether it’s trying a new sport, building water confidence, or simply burning off energy with friends, our goal is to help young people stay active, healthy and happy during the holidays. We can’t wait to welcome families through our doors.”
Cllr Lee Hunt, Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Leisure & Sport at Portsmouth City Council said:
“Parents have a wealth of options available from our partners at BH Live that will help keep the kids entertained over the summer break. Encouraging healthy lifestyles in our communities and promoting positive physical health is a priority for the council, so I’m encouraged to see so many sport-related activities on offer for young people to enjoy.”
More information about BH Live Active can be found at bhliveactive.org.uk.
-ENDS-
Notes to Editors:
For more information about BH Live please contact:
Daisy Saunders, PR & Communications Executive
E: press.office@bhlive.org.uk
About BH Live
Champions of community engagement, health and wellness across Dorset, Hampshire, and London
BH Live, a registered charity and social enterprise, is a leading operator of sports and leisure centres, theatres, and event venues. Driven by a mission to improve communities BH Live is dedicated to providing inclusive cultural experiences and promoting physical activity for all.
With a strong commitment to accessibility and community engagement, BH Live continues to enhance the quality of people’s lives, health and wellbeing in the communities it serves.
BH Live was established in 2010. Local authority partners include BCP Council, Portsmouth City Council and Croydon Council.
We are at the heart of the UK’s growing social economy. Together with our partners we are helping to change lives and make a positive impact in the community.
For more visit bhlive.org.uk.
Get social with us: LinkedIn, X – @BHLIVE_UK | Facebook @SocialEnterpriseBHLive
BH Live is a leisure and cultural trust, established in 2010 as a ‘non profit distributing organisation’ (NPDO) for public benefit to promote participation in leisure and cultural events. BH Live is a Company Limited by Guarantee and Registered Charity. Charity No: 1138311. Company No: 07092112. VAT Reg No: 108 2248 37. BH Live (Enterprises) Ltd, is a Private Company Limited by Shares and a wholly owned subsidiary of BH Live. Company No: 07175626. VAT Reg No: 108 2248 37. Registered Office: Bournemouth International Centre, Exeter Road, Bournemouth, BH2 5BH. Registered in England and Wales.
These leisure centres are owned by Portsmouth City Council and run by registered charity BH Live.
Mountbatten Leisure Centre – Portsmouth’s flagship leisure and event venue. Located in the heart of Hilsea, Mountbatten is located just a short distance from Portsmouth’s city centre. Its large well equipped gym, accessible by lift, has multiple zones with something to suit every activity preference and level of fitness. Dedicated training areas have lots of cardio kit to choose from, free weights, functional fitness spaces and more. With health and wellbeing professionals on hand, there is also an exercise referral team to offer guidance and support if recovering from an illness, injury or long term health condition. Group exercise classes run seven days a week and include Les Mills™ BodyPump, BodyCombat, Sprint, Grit, Group Cycle, Bootcamp, Shapes, yoga, Pilates, aqua, group cycle, circuits, and more.
There is a 50 metre swimming pool (divided into two) with regular public swimming sessions, lane swimming, pool-based classes and lessons. There is also a smaller teaching pool for little ones and lessons. Mountbatten is home to AquaDash – a large pool inflatable course – great fun for young people, team building away days, and parties. Spa facilities include a sauna, spa bath and steam room.
Mountbatten offers a broad health and wellbeing programme which focuses on helping people with long-term conditions to stay active and build their confidence in one one-on-one or group settings
Mountbatten is also home to a Clip ‘N Climb leisure attraction and an eight-court sports hall where multi-sport activities and events are held throughout the year in partnership with local clubs and schools. An outdoor velodrome and athletics track hosts regular training, events and competitions throughout the year.
Open to members and non members a Terrace Café has free customer WiFi and a children’s soft play facility. Here you can buy all sorts of snacks, meals and drinks.
From August 2024, ANPR will be in operation. There is free customer parking for up to four hours seven days a week with accessible spaces for Blue Badge holders. Charges apply for longer stays – see car park signage for details.
Find out more at bhliveactive.org.uk/mountbatten
Get social with us: X & Facebook @mountbattenlc | Instagram @bhliveactive
Pyramids Centre – BH Live Active, Pyramids is situated in Southsea overlooking the beach and Solent. There is something to suit every activity preference and level of fitness. The centre has state-of-the-art Technogym fitness equipment in an airy spacious gym with a wide range of functional fitness, strength and cardio activities. There is a dedicated assessment area for those who are new to exercise complete with fitness tracking technology to help set activity goals.
Pyramids has four activity studios. The Glasshouse and Solent each have stunning seaviews. There is also the region’s only dedicated HIIT studio running circuits style HIT classes and a Technogym Group cycle studio. Group exercise classes run seven days a week including Group Cycling, HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training), Yoga, Pilates and classes as part of the Les MillsTM programme including BodyPump, BodyCombat and Core.
As part of BH Live Active’s multisite membership, members can also use the gym, pools and classes at Mountbatten and Charter.
Next to Pyramids is a public car park with 154 parking spaces including six accessible spaces. Up to 90 minutes of free parking is available for customers attending the gym or a class – ask or register in centre. There is also free roadside parking along Clarance Esplanade after 6pm. This car park adjacent to Pyramids is managed by Portsmouth City Council and parking charges apply. – see website for details https://www.portsmouth.gov.uk/
Find out more at bhliveactive.org.uk/pyramids
Get social with us: X and Instagram @bhliveactive | Facebook @Pyramids.Centre
Exploria – Exploria at Pyramids in Southsea opened in 2021. It is Portsmouth’s largest indoor soft play and bounce attraction. With a range of exciting experiences, Exploria stimulates play for children aged 6 months and upwards. A tantalising sense of wonder and extreme fun across three connected worlds gives children plenty of action to amaze and delight. Everything, from floor to ceiling, evokes a sense of mystery with lots of jumps, leaps and thrills. All safely rightsized to inspire juniors, toddlers and babies alike.
The bounce zone is great for burning off tons of energy. The diving tower with air bag is perfect for the bravest of explorers. There are interactive games, themed slides. agility parkour, battle beams and foam pits too. Our play zone features ball pits, spider’s web and cargo climbing, a rope bridge skywalk, bash bags, tunnels, rollers, beams plus a dodge ball shoot out. And the baby and toddler zone has all things Exploria, but downsized for little ones of preschool age. There are quieter SEN play and bounce sessions plus a dedicated sensory room with stimulating lights, sound and touch. Four themed party rooms based on Volcanos, an underwater world, Mayan Ruins and Egyptian tomb – great for celebrating special occasions and birthdays, A dedicated Exploria café serves delicious snacks, light bites and drinks. And there’s toilets, accessible facilities, baby change, lockers, and a buggy park too. Exploria can accommodate school group bookings too – a great way to reward a class or year group.
For more and to book online visit exploria.org.uk
Get social with us on Facebook & Instagram @exploriauk
Exploria is located at Clarence Esplanade, Southsea, Portsmouth, PO5 3ST.
There is a pay and display public car park with 154 parking spaces including six accessible spaces. This car park is managed by Portsmouth City Council and parking charges apply. – see website for details https://www.portsmouth.gov.uk/
“Great fun, good place to go with family and kids. nice, clean, friendly. I recommend this place for families and kids.”
Portsmouth Gymnastics Centre – Located in Hilsea, a five-minute drive from Portsmouth city centre and next to Mountbatten, Portsmouth Gymnastics Centre is one the leading gymnastics facilities in the country.
A purpose-built gymnastics training facility provides young people and adults the opportunity to develop to a competition level with an artistic and acrobatic gymnastics club programme.
For more visit bhliveactive.org.uk/gymnastics-centre
Get social with us:
Facebook @PortsmouthGymnasticsCentre | X & Instagram @bhliveactive
Portsmouth Tennis Centre – Situated in the north of Portsmouth (Hilsea) next to Mountbatten. Portsmouth Tennis Centre consists of four indoor courts and six floodlit outdoor courts.
There is a comprehensive coaching programme caters for all ages and abilities. Sessions are available for tots, juniors, adults and also includes variations of the sport such as cardio tennis and touch tennis.
For more visit bhliveactive.org.uk/tennis-centre
Get social with us:
X @PortsTennis | Facebook @PortsmouthTC | Instagram@PortsmouthTennisCentre
Wimbledon Park Sports Centre – Located a five-minute drive from Portsmouth city centre, Wimbledon Park Sports Centre has a large sports hall with access to activities such as badminton and indoor sports.
For more visit bhliveactive.org.uk/wimbledon-park
Get social with us:
Facebook @WimbledonParkSportsCentre | X & Instagram @bhliveactive
Charter Community Sports Centre – Located in Portsmouth’s busy university district, a five-minute drive from Portsmouth city centre, Charter Community Sports Centre offers access to swimming, gym, group exercise classes and sports hall activities. There is also an outdoor multi-use games area.
For more visit bhliveactive.org.uk/charter
Get social with us: Facebook @CharterCommunitySC | X & Instagram @bhliveactive