Today, BH Live – a registered charity and award-winning leisure centre and events venue operator – is welcomed into the City as Southampton City Council’s preferred operator for its leisure services.
BH Live will now operate The Quays Swimming and Diving Complex, Bitterne Leisure Centre, Chamberlayne Leisure Centre, and the Outdoor Sports Centre under its leisure brand, BH Live Active. BH Live will also manage bookings for the council’s sports pitches across the city.
This new partnership marks the beginning of a fresh chapter in providing accessible, community-focused health and wellbeing activities for residents across Southampton. BH Live will improve service delivery across all venues, drive participation in physical activity, and ensure the long-term sustainability of Southampton’s leisure facilities.
On behalf of BH Live, Jon Workman, Chief Executive Officer, shared;
“We are proud to begin this new chapter with Southampton City Council.
“Our charitable mission is to improve community health and wellbeing by making access to sport and leisure more affordable and enjoyable for people of all ages and abilities. In partnership with Southampton City Council, we endeavour to inspire more residents to enjoy the benefits of a healthier, more active lifestyle while ensuring the city’s vital leisure facilities thrive for generations to come.”
As well as pay-as-you-go options for gym use, swimming and group exercise classes, BH Live is introducing great value membership starting from just £35 a month for adults. Membership includes multi-site access to all three leisure centres, with unlimited use of the gyms, group exercise classes and swimming. Concessions are also available for those in receipt of certain means-tested benefits and the city’s leisure card.
The charity aims to grow its junior activity programme to inspire more young people to be regularly active. This includes its established learn to swim programme and other fun activities such as parties and pool play sessions.
Rob Cunningham, BH Live’s Director of Leisure and Business Development, said;
“The leisure offer in Southampton is already fantastic, supported by so many talented people, clubs, and health & community partners. Our aim is to grow this even more.
“By offering great value multisite membership we’re providing even more value for money, giving residents more choice and flexibility to enjoy activities across the city. We’re excited to work with the council to improve these important public services, and make a positive impact in the community.”
Councillor Toqeer Kataria, Cabinet Member for Leisure and People at Southampton City Council said:
“This partnership marks a major milestone in our city’s commitment to health and wellbeing.
“Working with BH Live will help make our leisure centres more welcoming, affordable and accessible. I look forward to continuing this work with them and seeing more of our residents getting active, socialising, and enjoying healthier lifestyles.”
More information about BH Live Active, including its facilities, centres, and opening times, are available at bhliveactive.org.uk.
More information about BH Live is available at bhlive.org.uk.
Notes to Editors:
Pictured left to right – Representing Southampton City Council James Marshall (Director of Customer, Leisure, and Regulatory Services), Dom Bennett (Leisure Services Manager), Councillor Toqeer Kataria – Cabinet Member for Leisure and People). Representing BH Live is Jon Workman (CEO) and Rob Cunningham (Director of Leisure and Business Development)
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 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 – 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.
These leisure centres are owned by Southampton City Council and operated by registered charity BH Live:
- BH Live Active, The Quays – Situated near Southampton Harbour, The Quays is one of only four High Performance Centres for diving in the UK.
There is a 10m diving board with an 18m diving pool, with public swim sessions and swimming lessons taking place in a separate 25m main pool. Waterslides offer splashing fun for families and individuals, feeding into a separate lagoon pool complete with interactive water features.
With a state-of-the-art gym complete with cardio and strength areas, group exercise classes are delivered in dedicated studios.
A café with a seating area is also available on-site.
For more visit bhliveactive.org.uk/the-quays.
Get social with us:
Facebook – @BHLiveActive
Instagram – @thequayssouthampton
- BH Live Active, Bitterne – Just a short drive from Southampton City Centre, Bitterne Leisure Centre is a multi-complex facility, offering activities for visitors of all ages and abilities to help improve health and wellbeing.
Swimming lessons and swim sessions take place regularly across a 25m main pool (complete with a waterslide) and a 10m learner pool.
With a state-of-the-art gym complete with cardio and strength areas, group exercise classes are delivered in dedicated studios.
A sports hall is also available for block bookings and general hire.
For more visit bhliveactive.org.uk/bitterne.
Get social with us:
Facebook – @BHLiveActive
Instagram – @bitterneleisurecentre
- BH Live Active, Chamberlayne – Located in Weston, Chamberlayne Leisure Centre is a popular community leisure centre, offering a range of fitness classes and sports such as football, trampolining, badminton, table tennis, and more across its sports fields and sports hall.
There is also a community hall offering a variety of children’s activities and community events.
Complete with a gym and a grab-and-go café with seating, Chamberlayne offers tons for visitors of all ages to see and do.
- Outdoor Sports Centre – Southampton’s Outdoor Sports Centre offers a diverse range of sports and activities for visitors across the city to enjoy.
A multi-million-pound project to redevelop the Outdoor Sports Centre began in June 2025. It is expected to complete in 2027.
More information about this investment is online.