Hinckley Leisure Centre celebrates 10th anniversary

The council-owned venue, built at a cost of £15.1m on the former council offices site and operated by Places Leisure on the council’s behalf, has seen footfall rise by almost a third in that time — and has hosted everything from learn-to-swim lessons and rehabilitation programmes to election counts and vaccinations.

To mark the milestone, the council and operator Places Leisure have highlighted how the centre’s programme has broadened over the decade, combining sport and fitness with wider health support and community use.

Figures released to mark the milestone show the centre’s annual footfall has climbed from 680,982 in its first year to 895,748 in 2026 — a 32% increase.

The total number of visits recorded between May 2016 and May 2026 stands at 6,922,748, underlining the centre’s role as one of the area’s busiest community venues.

Operators Places Leisure said the building’s success is reflected in the stability of its workforce, with 16 employees who started at the centre in May 2017 still in post.

Alongside a full programme of fitness classes, newer sports have taken off. Pickleball, one of the fastest-growing racket sports, now runs for six hours of regular sessions each week, with extra bookable court time and new markings added to meet demand.

The centre has also become a base for training the next generation of staff. As a National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ) training site, it has hosted 20 lifeguard courses since 2016, with many participants going on to work at the venue.

In the pool, the popular Learn to Swim programme has handed out 20,000 swim hats to learners over the past decade.

Environmental upgrades have also featured, with solar panels installed in March last year generating 167,639 kWh so far — an impact the operator says is broadly equivalent to planting around 220 trees.

But the building has been about more than sport. In January 2021 it was repurposed as a mass COVID-19 vaccination centre, helping to deliver more than 100,000 vaccinations over two years by providing an accessible local site in partnership with the NHS.

More recently, an NHS blood clinic has operated from the lower ground floor since 2024, with nurses typically seeing around 30 patients a day.

The centre has also doubled as a democracy hub, hosting 12 election counts — including three general elections. Almost 2,000 people have worked on counts held at the venue, where 101 candidates have been elected.

Health and wellbeing programmes have become a core part of the centre’s offer. These include health and wellbeing memberships, Escape Pain classes, Good Boost pool sessions for people with musculoskeletal conditions and Move through Menopause courses. The venue has hosted the University Hospitals of Leicester (UHL) Cancer Prehabilitation fitness programme for people awaiting surgery for four years and currently supports 144 young people on gym memberships.

More than 400 cardiac patients have taken part in cardiopulmonary physical activity rehabilitation at the site.

Over the years, the centre has hosted a packed calendar of regional and national competitions, from taekwondo and martial arts to schools trampolining, regional and national trampoline events, and swim galas. Other events have ranged from ballroom dancing and the Leicestershire county pickleball competition to roller discos and school athletics — alongside conferences, collectables sales, comic cons and antiques fairs.

The venue has also supported local causes, including welcoming Pudsey Bear for Children in Need. It has hosted six Macmillan cake sales, raising more than £2,000.

Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council Leader, Stuart Bray said: “Hinckley Leisure Centre has become one of our most valued community assets. Over the past decade it has welcomed millions of visits and helped thousands of residents improve their fitness, confidence and wellbeing. From teaching children to swim, to supporting people through rehabilitation programmes and hosting major events, the centre has shown what a modern public leisure facility can achieve when it is rooted in its community. We’re proud of what has been delivered over the last 10 years and look forward to building on that success for the decade ahead.”

Nicola Stubbs, General Manager of Hinckley Leisure Centre for Places Leisure, said: “We are incredibly proud to be part of Hinckley Leisure Centre’s journey over the past decade. Every day we see firsthand the vital role that the centre plays in people’s lives and the wider community. Over the last ten years, we have supported thousands of people on their fitness journeys, from taking their first steps to becoming active, to reaching personal goals, managing health conditions, and providing an inclusive community space for all. As we look ahead, we are excited to continue building on this strong foundation, and supporting even more people to lead active, healthy lifestyles in the years to come.”

To celebrate the occasion the Leisure Centre will be hosting a free taster sessions:

Saturday 9 May

Junior Pickleball taster sessions - 11am to 12pm, 12pm to 1pm, 1pm to 2pm

GRIT class - 12pm to 12:30pm

Combat class - 12:45pm to 1:15pm

Sunday 10 May

Bouncy Castle fun session - 10am to 1pm

Sprint Cycling class - 1pm to 1:30pm

Attack class - 1:45pm to 2:15pm

There are limited spaces on the activities please book via reception or send an email to EnquiriesHinckley@pfpleisure.org to secure your place. Sessions are for people who are not already members and would like to try a new activity.