Oxford’s leisure centres are looking forward to a summer upgrade, with an extensive range of new cardio and strength equipment coming soon to Barton Leisure Centre, Ferry Leisure Centre and the Leys Pools & Leisure Centre. 

Improvements include: 

• Introduction of brand new, state of the art EGYM equipment at Ferry and Leys, offering personalised workouts tailored to individual needs 

• Modernised facilities, including new spin bikes and an improved studio layout at Leys, and improvements to the changing facilities at Ferry 

All work to install the new gym equipment is expected to be complete by September 2024. 

 

Investment and partnership 

More Leisure Community Leisure Trust (MLCT) operates the upgraded centres, along with Hinksey Outdoor Pool and Oxford Ice Rink, on behalf of Oxford City Council. The improvements come as part of a £3m loan from the council, which will see a significant return to the council over the ten year contract. This return will be reinvested into other vital services across the city. 

Customers to each of the five facilities will have seen a range of improvement works carried out since the new operator took over in April this year, with each of the centres being deep cleaned, redecorated and benefitting from new signage and new branding. 

Chewe Munkonge, Cabinet Member for A Healthy Oxford, said: 

“This investment in our leisure centres reflects our commitment to the health and wellbeing of Oxford residents and we are excited about the positive impact these upgrades will have on our community. By working closely with More Leisure, we are confident that these refurbished facilities will set a new standard for leisure centres in the region. Whether you are a regular gym-goer or new to fitness, these upgrades will offer something for everyone. Don’t forget as well – if you live in Oxford and you’re 16 or under, you can get a pass to swim for free! Find out more on our website.” 

Jamie Townsend, National Health and Fitness Manager for Serco Leisure, said: 

“The customers at Barton Leisure Centre, Ferry Leisure Centre and the Leys Pools & Leisure Centre are going to love their new gyms! I’m especially excited about the EGYM kit coming to two of the facilities. These machines are at the cutting edge of tech in the fitness sector, providing bespoke, personalised workouts. Our customer promise is to help them make more of every day – these upgrades are all geared towards fulfilling that pledge. 

“For details of any closure periods while work takes place, please keep an eye on your centre’s website and social media pages. These changes aren’t the end of our range of improvement work across each of the five centres in Oxford, so keep your eyes peeled for even more good news later in the year!” 

Additional Information

For updates on potential closure periods during the installation, please check the centre’s website and social media pages. https://www.oxfordcityleisure.com/

More Leisure Community Trust (MCLT) is an independent, not-for-profit charitable organisation dedicated to providing impactful and accessible community-focused leisure services. MLCT partners with Serco Leisure to manage these facilities on behalf of Oxford City Council.