OPENINGS & CLOSURES
POOL LOCATIONS
PUBLIC SECTOR
PUBLIC SECTOR
of the total UK population live within 2 miles of a public sector swimming pool 76.4 %
Number of centres with pool
Openings & closures: Public centres with a pool, 2010 – 2024
Regional breakdown
50
122
East Midlands
Closures
Openings
46
141
Eastern
40
140
London
60
North East
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30
30
30
161
North West
25
25
39
Northern Ireland
23
20
20
20
219
Scotland
19
18
16
15
209
South East
10
173
South West
121
Wales
22
27
19
22
18
16
29
27
14
19
17
13
20
13
9
0
112
West Midlands
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
If a centre is taken over by another operator, this is not counted as a closure or a new opening. Closures not recorded pre-2013.
116
Yorkshire & Humber
Note for the reader: As outlined previously, when comparing year-on-year stats, you may notice a discrepancy between total pool numbers versus what one might assume from reported closures and openings. For a briefing on why this is the case, please see page 33.
Over the last 12 months, nine public sector centres with a swimming pool have opened, while 25 centres – between them accounting for 41 pools – have closed. This year’s net loss of 16 centres compares to a net loss of two in 2023, a net gain of four in 2022 and a net loss of six in 2021.
■ In most areas of the UK, the number of public centres with a pool was lower in 2024 than in 2023. ■ The fall was most dramatic in Scotland: down 11 pools, from 230 in 2023 to 219 in 2024. ■ Only the north-east of England bucked the trend, with more public centres with pools in 2024 than in 2023. ■ The number held steady in London and Northern Ireland.
Regional centres with a pool: 2023 / 2024
300
2023
2024
PUBLIC CENTRES WITH SWIMMING POOL OPENINGS +9
230
219
211
209
200
175
173
166
161
144
141
140
140
PUBLIC CENTRES WITH SWIMMING POOL CLOSURES -25
125
122
122
121
120
116
115
112
100
60
59
39
39
0
E. Mids Eastern London North East North West N. Ireland Scotland South East South West Wales
W. Mids Yorks & Humber
50
51
STATE OF THE UK FITNESS INDUSTRY REPORT 2023 STATE OF THE UK SWIMMING INDUSTRY REPORT 2024
STATE OF THE UK FITNESS INDUSTRY REPORT 2023
50
51
STATE OF THE UK SWIMMING INDUSTRY REPORT 2024
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