DEFINITIONS
OVERVIEW
PUBLIC SECTOR
PUBLIC SECTOR
HIGH DEMAND, FALLING SUPPLY
PUBLIC CENTRES
All UK public centres with a swimming pool facility that’s available to the general public on a pay-per-swim or membership basis.
Public centres
In spite of continued high demand for swimming – referenced by all public sector operators interviewed for this report – the number of public leisure centres with pools has fallen again this year. Across the UK, there are now 1,613 public sector centres with pools – down 2% from 1,646 in 2023. Between them, these centres operate 2,659 pools – down from 2,703 in 2023 (-1.6%). Of the 1,613 total, 559 centres are now managed by the top 10 operators, up from 550 in 2023 (+9 centres). GLL (see page 44) remains the leading public sector operator in the UK by number of centres with pools: in 2024, the trust operates four more centres with pools than it did in 2023 (140 compared to 136). In second place is Everyone Active (SLM), the UK’s top leisure management contractor (LMC). At the end of March 2024, it had 136 centres with a pool that were open and operating – 10 more than last year – plus two temporarily closed sites. (See page 54 for a detailed update from the Everyone Active team.) No other public sector operator has more than 100 centres with a pool, but a further three have 50 or more: Freedom Leisure, Places Leisure and Parkwood Leisure. Fusion Lifestyle and Serco Leisure each have 25–50 centres with a pool (see page 72 for the top 10 rankings). In the 12 months to 31 March 2024, there were nine new openings and 25 closures in the public sector (please note, figures refer to openings and closures of centres with a pool – see definitions, page 42). The average public sector pay-per-swim fee has increased by 7.1% over the last 12 months, from £5.22 in 2023 to £5.59 in 2024. This brings the average fee over £5.50 for the first time.
1,613
OPERATORS
Top 10 pool operators: Centres belonging to the top 10 operators, as ranked by number of centres with a swimming pool. Note that totals exclude any temporarily closed facilities. Where operators are tied in total number of centres, higher ranking is determined by the greatest total fitness membership (data currently excludes swim-only members).
Pools
OPENINGS & CLOSURES
Openings: Centres with new swimming pools that opened between 01/04/2023 and 31/03/2024, either as a result of a swimming pool being added to an existing dry facility or being part of a new-build public sector centre. This does not include swimming pools added to a centre that already had a swimming pool; swimming pools that have been refurbished; or centres where a new swimming facility has been constructed to replace an existing one. Closures: Centres with swimming pools that closed between 01/04/2023 and 31/03/2024, either as a result of a full centre closure, or an individual swimming pool being closed at an existing centre to leave no remaining swimming pool. If a centre is taken over by another operator, this is not counted as a closure or a new opening.
2,659
Openings
9
AVERAGE PAY- PER-SWIM FEE
Single adult non-member, peak time pay-per-swim fee.
Closures
POOL TYPE
Indoor main: Indoor rectangular pool that’s 15m or more in length. Indoor teaching: Indoor teaching, learner or training pool that’s less than 15m in length. Indoor leisure: Indoor freeform or curved pool. Indoor diving: Designated indoor diving pool. Outdoor: Open-air pool that may be seasonal or open all year round.
25
Average fee (pay-per-swim) £5.59
42
43
STATE OF THE UK FITNESS INDUSTRY REPORT 2023 STATE OF THE UK SWIMMING INDUSTRY REPORT 2024
STATE OF THE UK FITNESS INDUSTRY REPORT 2023
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STATE OF THE UK SWIMMING INDUSTRY REPORT 2024
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