One of Portsmouth’s recently refurbished leisure centres, BH Live Active, Pyramids in Southsea, is hosting a free-to-attend open weekend on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 July 2024.
This is to encourage Portsmouth residents to find out more about the activities and facilities available at their local leisure centre.
The team will showcase the centre’s facilities throughout the day. There will be fitness challenges, free health checks and some free-to-attend classes including Family Hip Hop, Body Balance and Circuits.
For the little ones, there will be a bouncy castle, interactive games and a face painting station from 10am-4pm. Teas, coffees, snacks and soft drinks will be available to buy from the Solent View’s bar.
For those looking to join, there will be an exclusive new membership **offer during the open weekend. Those who join in-centre during the open weekend will get a free bag of BH Live Active goodies too.
Pyramids is owned by Portsmouth City Council and has been operated by registered charity and social enterprise BH Live since 2013.
On behalf of BH Live, Alan Higginson, General Manager of Pyramids shared;
“We’re so excited to encourage more residents to visit their local leisure centre by giving them this opportunity to come and explore the facilities and activities available at Pyramids for free. Our team is incredibly knowledgeable and friendly – they work incredibly hard to inspire visitors of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds across the city to stay active. We hope everyone enjoys what is set to be an incredible weekend.”
Cllr Steve Pitt, Leader of Portsmouth City Council said:
“As a council we work hard to support and encourage healthy lifestyles in all our communities, and consistently promote positive physical health and activity.
“We have invested nearly £4million into the refurbishment of the Pyramids site, as part of the £20m we’ve put into sports facilities since 2017. We have a strong partnership with BH Live and we are grateful to them for going above and beyond to offer these free activities to our residents. It sounds like it’s going to be a fun weekend!.”
In 2020/21 Pyramids was completely revamped by Portsmouth City Council and BH Live.
Dated event spaces and swimming facilities were transformed into more modern, sustainable and attractive facilities with wide appeal.
The centre is now home to a spacious and accessible gym boasting the latest Technogym equipment, an exercise referral service to support customers with long-term health needs, and a variety of fitness studios where more than 70 group classes are delivered every week including HIIT (High-Intensity Interval Training) Les MillsTM classes, yoga and Pilates. The centre is also home to Exploria, an expansive themed play and bounce attraction which has welcomed more than 250,000 attendances since opening and celebrated its 3000th party.
In recent achievements, the centre has been awarded ‘Very Good’ status in its latest *Quest assessment for its presentation, professionalism and dedication to making activities and facilities more inclusive for all.
A full timetable of activities running during the open weekend can be found online at bhliveactive.org.uk and the BH Live Active app.
More information about BH Live Active, Pyramids including its facilities and opening times are online at bhliveactive.org.uk/pyramids.
-ENDS-
Notes to Editors:
*The Quest scheme, which has assessed leisure and sports centres for more than 20 years, rates factors such as cleanliness, operations and people skills. The rigorous assessment process also includes centre visits, a mystery visit and online research to evaluate an authentic customer experience.
** Join between 27 July 2024 and ends 28 July 2024 and pay nothing until 1 September 2024 – No Joining Fee or pro rata. 12-month contract Direct Debits memberships only.
BH Live Active membership terms and conditions apply. Visit bhliveactive.org.uk/termsandconditions for further information.
The membership offer is valid until 11:59 pm on 28 July 2024. Offers cannot be used in conjunction with any other offers or discounts and can be withdrawn at any time.
For more information about BH Live please contact:
Daisy Saunders, PR & Communications Executive
E: press.office@bhlive.org.uk
About BH Live
BH Live is a leading operator of leisure and event venues; a registered charity and social enterprise that designs and builds engaging experiences to inspire people and enrich lives.
For more visit bhlive.org.uk.
Get social with us:
LinkedIn, X – @BHLIVE_UK
Facebook @SocialEnterpriseBHLive
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 equipped gym, accessible by lift, has multiple zones with something to suit every activity preference and level of fitness. Dedicated training areas have lots of cardio kit to choose from, 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.
From August 2024, ANPR will be in operation. There is free customer parking for up to four hours seven days a week with accessible spaces 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: X & 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 seaviews. 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.
Next to Pyramids is a public car park with 154 parking spaces including six accessible spaces. Up to 90 minutes 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: X and 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. 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 and to book online visit exploria.org.uk
Get social with us on 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/
“Great fun, good place to go with family and kids. nice, clean, friendly. I recommend this place for families and kids.”
- Portsmouth Gymnastics Centre – Located in Hilsea, a five-minute drive from Portsmouth city centre and next to Mountbatten, Portsmouth Gymnastics Centre is one the leading gymnastics facilities in the country.
A purpose-built gymnastics training facility provides young people and adults the opportunity to develop to a competition level with an artistic and acrobatic gymnastics club programme.
For more visit bhliveactive.org.uk/gymnastics-centre
Get social with us:
Facebook @PortsmouthGymnasticsCentre | X & 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.
There is a comprehensive coaching programme caters for all ages and abilities. Sessions are available for tots, juniors, adults and also includes variations of the sport such as cardio tennis and touch tennis.
For more visit bhliveactive.org.uk/tennis-centre
Get social with us:
X @PortsTennis | 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 | X & 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 | X & Instagram @bhliveactive