Excitement is building ahead of the launch of the brand-new Leighton Leisure and Community Centre in Leighton Buzzard.
The state-of-the-art facility, run by award-winning operator Everyone Active on behalf of Central Bedfordshire Council, is set to open its doors on Saturday, June 27.
To mark the occasion, Leighton Leisure and Community Centre will host a Family Fun Day packed with free activities for people of all ages. The opening will be made even more special by appearances from British athletics legend Colin Jackson CBE and Paralympic swimming star Maisie Summers-Newton MBE, who will take part in the official opening and join in with the day’s activities.
Colin is a Welsh former hurdler who won Olympic silver, two world outdoor golds and a world indoor title. He also secured two Commonwealth golds and held the 110m hurdles world record for nearly 13 years, with his 60m hurdles record standing for almost 27 years.
Based in Wellingborough, Maisie won gold in the 100m SB6 breaststroke and 200m SM6 individual medley at the Tokyo 2024 Paralympic Games and achieved the same feat at Paris 2024. She is also the 200m SM6 individual medley world record holder, clocking 2:55.07 in Berlin in 2024.
Leighton Leisure and Community Centre will feature a 150-station gym filled with top-of-the-range Technogym equipment, three swimming pools, a group cycling studio, Reformer studio and wellness and group exercise studios.
There will be two squash courts, hydromassage beds and three professional treatment rooms, which will be available for hire by local practitioners, alongside a dedicated changing village and two Changing Places Toilet facilities, ensuring the centre is accessible, inclusive and serves everyone.
For those wishing to refuel after an activity session, drinks, snacks and meals can be purchased at the Peak and Wild Café - a welcoming community café open to everyone. The centre also features a community studio and two meeting rooms, all available for public and community use. Tiddenfoot Leisure Centre will close at 12 noon on Friday, 26 June, and will be replaced by Leighton Leisure and Community Centre. From the next day, members can attend the new centre, as all memberships will automatically transfer. Opening times will remain unchanged.
Gary Foley, Everyone Active’s contract manager, said: “The opening of this centre is hugely significant for the health and wellbeing of the local community, and we cannot wait to open our doors and show everyone the fantastic facility on their doorstep. No matter what your age, interests or ability, there is an activity for you here.
“The Family Fun Day will be an amazing opportunity for people to experience activities for free and get a taste for what the centre has to offer. We are privileged to have current and former GB stars in Maisie and Colin attending and know they are looking forward to meeting the public and getting involved.
“It promises to be a really memorable day, and we would encourage everyone to come down and join in the celebrations.”
Cllr. Steven Watkins, Executive Member for Assets, Business and Housing said: “This is our fifth new leisure centre, showing our long‑term commitment to improving opportunity and quality of life across our communities. We hope everyone comes along to enjoy the official opening day and takes the opportunity to join and make full use of everything the centre has to offer.”
Everyone Active runs several other leisure and cultural facilities in Central Bedfordshire, which are Houghton Regis Leisure and Community Centre, Flitwick Leisure Centre, Saxon Pool and Leisure Centre, Sandy Leisure and Sports Centre, The Dunstable Centre, The Grove Theatre and Leighton Buzzard Library Theatre.