Bournemouth, UK – on Monday 1 May 2017, social enterprise BH Live is celebrating its seventh birthday. Customers have clocked up more than 19 million visits to its venues since it formed in 2010.
The leisure and cultural trust has since grown its reach across Dorset, Hampshire, London and the Home Counties, driven by its social objectives to get more people more active and enjoying a diverse programme of cultural experiences and events. It has also hosted a vibrant line-up of conferences and exhibitions. This has generated in excess of £300 million in economic benefit for its local communities through business and cultural tourism.
The number of venues it operates has grown from six to fifteen with the addition of more than 20 retail cafés and bars. On average activity visits have grown by 200,000 each year and the organisation’s overall turnover has increased by £17 million. The team has also expanded from 600 employees to more than 1,500 – and BH Live’s activity indirectly sustains 4,500 jobs across the region.
This year, BH Live has been commended for its wide-reaching entertainment and cultural programme, environmental initiatives, commitment to its growing workforce and delivery of high-quality services. It has attained Investors in People accreditation and a 2017 Green Initiative of the Year award. It was also awarded Gym of the Year at the National Fitness Awards.
Hospitality Assured and QUEST have recognised year-on-year improvements and the UK’s only AIPC gold level venue was awarded to Bournemouth International Centre – the south coast’s leading events and entertainment destination.
Investment, including the acquisition and transformation of former private health clubs into public facilities, has brought venues back-to-life. And more community-led events and initiatives, including family fun days, tea dances, a theatre school and youth theatre education programme, have added to its diverse cultural programme.
More recently partnership with Portsmouth City Council and the London Borough of Croydon sees BH Live joining forces to transform their sport and event venues, improving facilities and boosting community use. These include Mountbatten Leisure Centre in Portsmouth, with its Olympic-sized pool and sporting event facilities, and the iconic Fairfield Halls situated in the heart of Croydon.
“Our journey continues to be remarkable and the positive impact we are making on people’s lives is growing, says Peter Gunn, BH Live’s Chief Executive.
“Bringing people together through cultural events and physical activity encourages improved overall health and wellbeing. This has a considerable bearing on the community and local economies. As a leading employer too it’s a privilege to make such a difference to so many. As our journey continues we are excited about reaching into new communities to provide even more activities for all.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
For more information about BH Live please contact:
Elizabeth Symmons, PR & Corporate Communications Executive
E: press.office@bhlive.org.uk
T: (01202) 055562
About BH Live
BH Live is the south coast’s leading operator of leisure and event venues; a social enterprise that designs and builds engaging experiences to inspire people and enrich lives.
With more than three million visits a year and over £36.5 million turnover, the organisation is changing lives – placing it at the heart of the UK’s growing social economy.
In 2015/16 BH Live hosted more than 500 events, sold over half a million cultural, sporting and entertainment tickets. They had 2.6 million visits into its leisure centres and welcomed 118,000 conference and exhibition delegates into its venues. This contributed an estimated £66.3 million to the local economy through business and cultural tourism.
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About Bournemouth International Centre
Bournemouth International Centre is managed and operated by BH Live in partnership with Bournemouth Borough Council.
Set in the heart of Bournemouth, with panoramic views across the bay, it is the South Coast’s premier conference, exhibition, entertainment, and hospitality venue, with licensed capacity for up to 10,000 visitors.
Four main halls and a variety of smaller meeting and hospitality areas can be blended and scaled to host events such as multi-hall conferences, exhibitions, meetings, music concerts, dance and comedy performances. For more visit bic.co.uk
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About Bournemouth Pavilion
Bournemouth Pavilion is managed and operated by BH Live in partnership with Bournemouth Borough Council.
This Grade II listed venue provides a 1,500-seat theatre and full-sized ballroom. The venue hosts musicals, opera, ballet, pantomime, comedy, gala dinners, banquets, receptions, fairs, dances and fashion shows throughout the year.
It also provides facilities to complement events at Bournemouth International Centre and for corporate presentations, product launches, and smaller conferences and exhibitions. Bournemouth Pavilion is also home to Pavilion Dance South West and the Pavilion at AUB rehearsal and teaching space for the Arts University Bournemouth. For more visit bournemouthpavilion.co.uk
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About Littledown
Littledown is managed and operated by BH Live in partnership with Bournemouth Borough Council.
Set in 47 acres of parkland, Littledown has some of the finest leisure, swimming, football and gym facilities in the country.
It is ranked among the top performing leisure centres in the UK – crowned Local Authority/Leisure Trust Gym of the Year at the 2016 National Fitness Awards and accredited by quality scheme QUEST.
The centre attracts more than 1.1 million visits each year and is home to clubs including Bournemouth Swimming Academy, Swim Bournemouth, Littledown Juniors Football Club and Play Football.
It runs nearly 300 weekly fitness classes, has one of the largest gyms in the UK with personal training, an exercise referral and children’s activity programme. The BH Live Active team also works with local health authorities, trusts, education providers and organisations to encourage greater participation in physical activity.
Indoor facilities include a 25-metre swimming pool, 17-metre teaching pool, waterslides, splash pool, steam rooms, a sauna and sanarium. There is a large sports hall for events and multi-sports including trampolining, badminton, table tennis, football and gymnastics.
The centre also has on-site catering and an Ofsted registered crèche.
Outdoor facilities include leisure attraction, ALTITUDE High Ropes Adventure at Littledown Park (2016 TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence), six floodlit 3G rubber crumb training pitches, grass football pitches, parkland for recreation and events, a cricket pitch and pavilion, lake, paddling pool, children’s playground, outdoor catering outlets, leisure orienteering course and parking.
For more visit bhliveactive.org.uk
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About Stokewood
Stokewood is managed and operated by BH Live in partnership with Bournemouth Borough Council.
This community leisure facility, in the Winton/Charminster area of Bournemouth, started out as a public baths in 1930.
It has a 22.8-metre swimming pool, sauna, an aerobics studio running more than 70 weekly fitness classes, a spin studio and gym with personal training. The centre is home to local sports clubs for triathlon, water polo, lifeguard training, karate and other activities.
Popular for pool parties, swimming lessons with Bournemouth Swimming Academy and local schools, the centre attracts over 5,000 visits a week.
Stokewood is Quest-accredited and enjoys excellent relationships with local community groups, Bournemouth University, colleges and local schools. For more visit bhliveactive.org.uk
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About Pelhams
Pelhams is managed and operated by BH Live in partnership with Bournemouth Borough Council.
Located north of Bournemouth, it has two swimming pools, a sanarium, large gym, aerobics studios, spin studio, FeelGood Factory and a Terrace Café. Over 900 people learn to swim at the centre with the Bournemouth Swimming Academy and there are more than 100 weekly fitness classes for all abilities.
It has three tennis courts plus eight floodlit 3G rubber crumb artificial training pitches used regularly by Play Football leagues and community groups. The team works closely with the local community and health groups to provide fitness and social activities for vulnerable people, individuals with health concerns and people on low income.
For more visit bhliveactive.org.uk
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About Sir David English
Sir David English is managed and operated by BH Live in partnership with Bournemouth School Charitable Trust.
It is a community sports centre with a multi-purpose sports hall, gym with Life Fitness equipment and a multi-functional studio for more than 40 weekly fitness classes and sports clubs. There is a sauna and steam room for relaxation.
Outdoors, Pelhams has three six-a-side, 3G rubber crumb training pitches, eight netball courts and four tennis courts where teams regularly train and compete. The centre promotes grassroots sports development and works closely with local sports clubs and neighbouring schools to encourage students to take part in physical activity.
For more visit bhliveactive.org.uk
About Pyramids Centre
BH Live manages Pyramids in partnership with Portsmouth City Council. This is one of Portsmouth’s leading entertainment and leisure complexes with views of Southsea beach and the Solent. It has fun pools, flumes, waves and a three-level soft play adventure world.
There is also a multipurpose gym, more than 60 weekly fitness classes and a spa.
Regular live music performances, conferences, exhibitions and private events are hosted in the venue.
For more visit bhliveactive.org.uk
Get social with us on Facebook and Twitter @BHLIVE_UK @bhliveactive @pyramidscentre @pyramidslive
BH Live also operates, in partnership with Portsmouth City Council:
- Mountbatten Leisure Centre – Portsmouth’s flagship leisure and event venue with a national-class 50m swimming pool, 150 station gym, 8 court sports hall, 2 squash courts, spin and dance studios, a cycle velodrome, athletics track, function suites, and an onsite café
- Portsmouth Gymnastics Centre – consists of a state-of-the-art gymnastics hall, physiotherapy room and meeting room
- Portsmouth Tennis Centre – consists of 4 indoor tennis courts and 6 floodlit outdoor tennis courts
- Eastney Swimming Pool – 20m swimming pool and a spectators’ area
- Wimbledon Park Sports Centre – 20 station gym, 5 badminton courts, basketball court and sports hall
- Charter Community Sports Centre – 20m swimming pool, 20 station gym, sports hall and an outdoor multi-use games area
About BH Live Active, Queen’s Park
Based in the Queen’s Park area of Bournemouth, the centre is popular with the local community and features a gym, aerobic studio, spin studio, swimming pool, sauna, steam room, Terrace Café and crèche.
There are more than 90 weekly exercise classes to cater for all abilities.
For more visit bhliveactive.org.uk
Get social with us on Facebook and Twitter @BHLIVE_UK @bhliveactive
About BH Live Active, Corfe Mullen
BH Live Active, Corfe Mullen is located in East Dorset. It is a vibrant community hub with a pool, gym, group exercise studios, a Terrace Café with soft play and tennis courts.
It also runs a learn-to-swim programme for adults and children, together with an 813 Club and Kids’ Zone, to enable families to take part in physical activity together.
For more visit bhliveactive.org.uk
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About BH Live Hospitality
BH Live Hospitality is BH Live’s catering team, providing event and retail services at leisure and cultural venues across Dorset, Hampshire, the south east and Greater London.
Terrace cafés and bars operate at venues including Bournemouth Pavilion, Bournemouth International Centre, Littledown, Pelhams, BH Live Active, Queen’s Park and Corfe Mullen, Lighthouse, Poole’s Centre for the Arts, Mountbatten Leisure Centre and Portsmouth Pyramids. Terrace cafés, bars and vending outlets also operate across the south and Greater London in partnership with Fusion Lifestyle and GLL. Locations include London Aquatics Centre (LAC) and Copper Box Arena in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and Streatham Ice and Leisure Centre.
For more visit bhlive.org.uk/hospitality
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About BH Live Tickets
BH Live Tickets sells over half a million cultural, sporting and entertainment tickets a year for venues including Bournemouth International Centre, Bournemouth Pavilion, Portsmouth Pyramids.
It also sells tickets for events across the south coast including AFC Bournemouth matches, music and sport festivals.
- To buy tickets online, visit bhlivetickets.co.uk
- To buy tickets by phone, call us on 0844 576 3000 between 9:00am and 8:30pm Monday to Saturday and 9:00am and 5:30pm (8:30pm if there is a show) on Sundays.
- Tickets can also be bought from the box offices at Bournemouth International Centre and Bournemouth Pavilion.
See the website for call charges and opening times.
For more visit bhlivetickets.co.uk.
Get social with us on Facebook and Twitter @BHLIVE_UK @bhlivetickets