More than a thousand swimmers visited the Brentwood Centre's newly refurbished pools this weekend, as a £1.3 million transformation of the facility was officially completed after six months of works.
The two-day total of 1,003 visitors across both pools marked a strong start for the newly refurbished facility.
The reopening on Saturday 20 June marked the end of a major overhaul by Brentwood Borough Council, one of the most significant investments in the centre since it first opened in the early 1980s.
The refurbishment, which began in January, covered a complete redesign of the pool changing village, with new flooring, fixtures and fittings throughout, as well as improvements to pool surrounds, tiling and ceilings across both pool halls.
The work was carried out by leisure operator Everyone Active on behalf of Brentwood Borough Council, and was carefully phased throughout to keep swimming provision open during construction.
Dan Humphries, area contract manager for Everyone Active, said: "The reaction from swimmers across the opening weekend was brilliant - it's great to see the pools full of life again.
“Delivering a project of this scale while keeping swimming open throughout is something the whole team and Brentwood Borough Council should be really proud of. We've created something the whole community can enjoy for years to come, so whether you're a regular or haven't visited in a while, now is a great time to come down.”
Councillor Gareth Barrett, Brentwood Borough Council’s Chair of the Assets and Strategy Committee, said: “It’s fantastic that local people are now able to see and benefit from the council’s investment in this much-valued community facility. The pools and changing areas have been redesigned and fully refurbished, supporting current and future learners and swimmers. Like many local residents, I have great memories of growing up using our local swimming pool, and I’m delighted that future generations will have the same opportunity.
“And this is just the beginning. This forms part of our £25 million investment in the Brentwood Centre, ensuring it becomes a modern, inclusive space that delivers the wide range of facilities and services our residents deserve.”
The main 25-metre, six-lane pool - equipped with a Poolpod lift for swimmers with limited mobility - and the smaller teaching pool together welcome around 90,000 swimmers every year.
Both pools host a full programme of lessons for all ages and abilities, alongside public swimming, lane swimming, aqua aerobics, aqua Zumba, swimming parties and inclusive quiet swimming sessions. The centre is also home to Brentwood Swimming Club, who use the facility for training and competition preparation.
Looking ahead, Everyone Active will be announcing details of an open weekend at the Brentwood Centre soon, giving the wider community a chance to come and experience the refurbished facilities. Further details will be shared in due course.
The Brentwood Centre welcomes more than 450,000 visitors a year across swimming, gym sessions, fitness classes, events and live entertainment.