Portsmouth’s leisure facilities are set for more than £1million investment and improvements after Portsmouth City Council awarded BH Live a 10-year contract to manage six venues in the city.
Management of Mountbatten Leisure Centre, Portsmouth Gymnastics Centre, Portsmouth Tennis Centre, Eastney Swimming Pool, Wimbledon Park Sports Centre and Charter Community Sports Centre will transfer to cultural trust BH Live on 1 February 2017.
BH Live already works with the council managing Pyramids in Southsea, one of the region’s largest leisure and event venues. Since 2013, the trust has invested in Pyramid’s facilities and significantly increased activity participation and improved event programming.
The trust has pledged to broaden the appeal of the six additional venues to make them accessible to all and encourage more people to get more active.
This will include improving facilities at the sites such as new children’s activities, a Terrace Café and a refurbished reception area at Mountbatten Leisure Centre.
Multi-site membership, concessions for people on low income and pay-as-you-go prices will also be launched.
The change in management will mean significant savings for the council as it will no longer have to subsidise the facilities.
Cllr Linda Symes, Portsmouth City Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure & Sport, said:
“This is an exciting move for the city and will reinvigorate the six centres involved. BH Live has successfully managed the Pyramids under some challenging conditions and extending that relationship can only be a positive thing.
“There are some big plans to invest in the sites and improve the facilities which should inspire more people to get out and use them. Not only will this help make Portsmouth residents more active, it will also make the council significant savings as we won’t have to subsidise the running of the centres.”
Peter Gunn, BH Live’s Chief Executive, said:
“With shared ambition to increase community participation and improve services, we are delighted to extend our offer across Portsmouth, working closely with Portsmouth City Council to create a more active city.
“Improving the health and wellbeing of communities through physical activity, promoting major events and boosting sports development are high on our agenda, as is improving the overall quality of services, supporting the local economy and contributing to environmental improvements.”
Following the successful roll-out of its exercise referral and outreach programme at Pyramids, BH Live will continue working in consultation with the region’s health partners to further encourage those living with a range of health conditions to be more active and feel better. An engaging aquatics programme, to include swimming lessons, will also be launched to boost participation in swimming.
Working with local stakeholders, steering groups, partners, community groups and businesses, BH Live is committed to increase the profile of the city. Relationships with sports clubs will be developed to meet their needs and encourage people to be inspired by the city’s activity and sports development offer.
More than £1million investment has been committed by the trust to improve the venues and create new and exciting facilities and activities under its BH Live Active, Events and Hospitality brands.
BH Live will also look at the programming of events across the venues to maximise on sporting and cultural attendance and generate business tourism. It will also bring in catering expertise from its hospitality division operation currently operating in London and South East.
Find out more about BH Live at bhlive.org.uk and follow on social media @BHLIVE_UK
ENDS
To arrange interviews please contact:
Portsmouth City Council communications team
E: communications@portsmouthcc.gov.uk
T: 023 9268 8073
or
Elizabeth Symmons, BH Live 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 welcomed 2.4 million active participants into its leisure centres and 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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