Following an agreed partnership extension with Portsmouth City Council, registered charity and social enterprise BH Live has shared more details about its £750K investment into Mountbatten Leisure Centre, the city’s flagship centre.
BH Live has partnered with Precor, one of the world’s leading fitness facility providers, to deliver a completely redesigned gym experience at the Mountbatten Leisure Centre. The refurbishment includes a brand-new gym layout, state-of-the-art equipment, and 130 individual workout stations.
In addition, new post-workout recovery and functional training spaces will be created, plus a dedicated EGYM area offering technology-enabled, guided workouts. The gym will also benefit from new flooring, improved lighting, and contemporary fittings, helping to create a modern, energising environment to train and workout.
The centre’s health suite (spa) and changing rooms are also being redecorated and essential maintenance carried out as part of the investment programme. Meanwhile, enhancements will be made to the pool’s spectator balcony, including refreshed décor and new durable laminate flooring.
To enable the work to take place as quicky as possible, Mountbatten Leisure Centre’s gym, health suite (spa), gym changing rooms, and pool spectator balcony will be temporarily closed for approximately four weeks from Monday 8 June 2026.
During temporary closures, customers are encouraged to use alternative gym facilities and classes at Pyramids Centre, Wimbledon Park Sports Centre, and Charter Community Sports Centre (subject to centre opening times).
Some of the gym equipment from Mountbatten Leisure Centre will be used to create a brand-new workout space at Wimbledon Park Sports Centre. The gym at Charter Community Sports Centre will also be getting a welcome refresh. These will be available to use from Wednesday 17 June 2026. These sites are accessible to BH Live Active members as part of their multi-site membership.
Further investment proposals within BH Live’s extended partnership with Portsmouth City Council include the introduction of Reformer Pilates at the Pyramids Centre, with more details to be announced soon.
Refurbishment to Wimbledon Park Sports Centre’s changing rooms recently completed, with improvements to Mountbatten Leisure Centre’s Group Cycle studio currently underway.
These investments support BH Live’s charitable mission to improve health and wellbeing by encouraging more people across Portsmouth to get active. Further updates about these improvements will continue to be shared with BH Live Active members and visitors later this year.
On behalf of BH Live, Rob Cunningham, Director of Leisure and Business Development, shared;
“This £750K investment is a major step forward for the Mountbatten Leisure Centre, and reflects our long-term commitment to the city.
“As a charity and social enterprise, our priority is always to improve health and wellbeing in the communities we serve. This significant investment will transform the facilities, making them more welcoming, accessible, and engaging for people of all ages and abilities.
“We’re excited to bring new technology, upgraded spaces and high‑quality equipment to Portsmouth, and we thank our customers for their patience while work takes place.”
Located in the heart of Hilsea, the Mountbatten Leisure Centre is located just a short distance from Portsmouth’s city centre. It is equipped with a large gym with dedicated cardio and weight areas as well as multiple fitness studios where group exercise classes, including Les Mills™ Body Pump, Pilates, group cycling, and many more take place seven days a week. An outdoor velodrome and athletics track hosts regular training, events and competitions throughout the year.
There is also a 50-metre swimming pool (divided into two) and a learner pool with regular public swimming sessions, pool-based classes and lessons. The swimming pool is frequently booked for galas and competitions, including regional and national championships.
Mountbatten Leisure Centre is also home to a large pool inflatable obstacle course, AquaDash!, an indoor Clip N’ Climb, and MountAirXL, a brand-new air inflatable which launched in October 2025. These attractions are popular with young people, community groups, and are perfect for parties. Spa facilities include a sauna, spa bath and steam room.
The Mountbatten Leisure Centre is also well-known for its health and wellbeing programmes. Qualified instructors and an exercise referral team are on hand to offer guidance and support for individuals recovering from injuries or long-term health conditions.
Multi-sport activities and events are held throughout the year in partnership with local clubs and schools in the centre’s eight-court sports hall. A Terrace Café with free customer WiFi and a children’s soft play facility is also available on site.
Outdoors, there is an athletics track and velodrome utilised for year-round sporting events, as well as several sports pitches.
For more information about the Mountbatten Leisure Centre, visit bhliveactive.org.uk/mountbatten.
More information about BH Live can be found online at bhlive.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. Our vision is to create sustainable and inspiring opportunities, deliver great experiences for our communities, and improve health and well-being.
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, Croydon Council, and Southampton City 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 – BH Live
Facebook – @SocialEnterpriseBHLive
Instagram @bhliveuk
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.
About Mountbatten Leisure Centre
Mountbatten Leisure Centre is owned by Portsmouth City Council and operated in partnership with registered charity BH Live.
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 well-equipped gym, accessible by lift, has multiple zones with something to suit every activity preference and level of fitness.
Dedicated training areas offer cardio machines, 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 customer WiFi, and a children’s soft play facility. Here you can buy all sorts of snacks, meals and drinks.
ANPR is in operation at Mountbatten Leisure Centre. There is free customer parking for up to four hours, seven days a week. Accessible spaces are available 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:
Facebook – @mountbattenlc
Instagram – @bhliveactive