Transformed fitness facilities at Mountbatten Leisure Centre in Hilsea have reopened today (Monday 29 June 2026).
This marks the completion of a major £750K BH Live investment to transform leisure centres across the city, providing a better fitness experience for residents and visitors.
The upgraded gym at Mountbatten Leisure Centre features brand-new Precor equipment across 130 workout stations, alongside improved cardio and strength training zones. The space has been reconfigured to include dedicated recovery, physio, and wellness areas, and new post-workout facilities featuring Reach Wellness equipment.
An EGYM smart workout area is coming soon, enhancing the gym’s digital fitness offering even more. Learn more and ‘get EGYM ready’ at bhliveactive.org.uk/egym.
The centre’s health suite (spa area) has been redecorated, and its lockers and showers refreshed. Female changing rooms (gym) are reopening on Monday 29 June 2026, and male changing rooms (gym) reopen on Monday 6 July 2026.
Other recently completed projects, which were part of BH Live’s £750K investment, include an improved group cycle studio at the Mountbatten Leisure Centre and a brand-new Reformer Pilates studio at the Pyramids Centre in Southsea.
Furthermore, using some of the gym equipment from Mountbatten, a brand-new gym space has been created and is opening at Wimbledon Park Sports Centre from Saturday 13 July 2026.
BH Live (a registered charity and social enterprise) operates sport and leisure facilities across the city on behalf of Portsmouth City Council.
On behalf of BH Live, Rob Cunningham, Director of Leisure and Business Development, shared;
“We’re delighted to confirm the reopening of Mountbatten Leisure Centre’s gym following this significant investment. The new space has been completely transformed, with high-quality equipment and dedicated training and recovery areas designed to support all fitness levels.
“This refurbishment reflects our commitment to creating modern, welcoming environments that help more people across the city stay active and improve their health and wellbeing.”
On behalf of Portsmouth City Council, Cllr Lee Hunt, Cabinet Member for Sport, Leisure, and Community Safety, said:
“It’s fantastic to see the reopening of Mountbatten Leisure Centre’s gym following this significant investment. These improvements will provide residents with modern, high-quality facilities that support people of all ages and abilities to get active and stay healthy.
“We’re proud to work in partnership with BH Live to continue enhancing leisure opportunities across the city, making it easier for our communities to prioritise their wellbeing and enjoy the benefits of an active lifestyle.”
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 home to a large pool inflatable obstacle course, AquaDash!, an indoor Clip N’ Climb, and MountAirXL, a giant air inflatable which launched in October 2025. These attractions are popular with young people, community groups, and are perfect for parties. Health Suite (Spa) facilities include a sauna, spa bath and steam room.
The Mountbatten Leisure Centre is well-known for its health and wellbeing programmes that are supported by the NHS. 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.
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.
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 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 free 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
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 sea views. 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.
A South Terrace café and container bar opened in spring 2025, offering refreshments and stunning views in an outdoor setting overlooking the Solent.
Next to Pyramids is a public car park with 154 parking spaces including six accessible spaces. Up to two hours 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:
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. An additional sensory room featuring musical touch pads, liquid floor tiles, soft blocks and shapes, and calm sensory lighting opened in the centre in spring 2025.
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 information and to book online visit exploria.org.uk
Get social with us:
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/
Portsmouth Gymnastics Centre – Located in Hilsea, a five-minute drive from Portsmouth city centre and next to Mountbatten, Portsmouth Gymnastics Centre is one of the leading gymnastics facilities in the country.
A purpose-built gymnastics training facility provides young people and adults with the opportunity to develop to a competitive level with an artistic and acrobatic gymnastics club programme.
For more visit bhliveactive.org.uk/gymnastics-centre
Get social with us:
Facebook – @PortsmouthGymnasticsCentre
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.
A comprehensive coaching programme caters for visitors of all ages and abilities. Sessions are available for tots, juniors, and adults.
For more visit bhliveactive.org.uk/tennis-centre
Get social with us:
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
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
Instagram – @bhliveactive