OPENINGS & CLOSURES
POOL LOCATIONS
PUBLIC SECTOR
PUBLIC SECTOR
of the total UK population live within two miles of a public sector swimming pool 76.3 %
Number of centres with pool
Openings & closures: Public centres with a pool, 2010–2025
Regional breakdown
50
124
East Midlands
Closures
Openings
46
139
Eastern
40
139
London
60
North East
Want to know where your members come from? Why not ask Leisure DB
30
30
30
161
North West
25
25
39
Northern Ireland
23
20
20
20
214
Scotland
19
18
16
16
15
208
South East
10
172
South West
119
Wales
22
27
19
22
18
16
29
27
14 19
17
13
20
13
9
9
0
113
West Midlands
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
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.
115
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 45.
In the 12 months to 31 March 2025, nine public sector centres with a swimming pool opened, while 16 centres – between them accounting for 20 pools – closed. (Note: Figures refer to openings and closures of centres with a pool – see definitions, page 52). This year’s net loss of seven centres compares to a net loss of 16 in 2024, a net loss of two in 2023 and a net gain of four in 2022.
■ In most areas of the UK, the number of public centres with a pool was lower in 2025 than in 2024. ■ The fall was most dramatic in Scotland, down five pools from 219 in 2024 to 214 in 2025. ■ Only the East Midlands and West Midlands bucked the trend, with more public centres with pools in 2025 than in 2024. ■ The number held steady in the North East, North West and Northern Ireland.
Regional centres with a pool: 2024 / 2025
300
2024
2025
PUBLIC CENTRES WITH SWIMMING POOL OPENINGS +9
219
214
209
208
200
173
172
161
161
PUBLIC CENTRES WITH SWIMMING POOL CLOSURES -16
141
140
139
139
124
122
121
119
116
115
113
112
100
60
60
39
39
0
E. Mids Eastern London North East North West N. Ireland Scotland South East South West Wales
W. Mids Yorks & Humber
54
55
STATE OF THE UK FITNESS INDUSTRY REPORT 2023 STATE OF THE UK SWIMMING INDUSTRY REPORT 2025
STATE OF THE UK FITNESS INDUSTRY REPORT 2023
54
55
STATE OF THE UK SWIMMING INDUSTRY REPORT 2025
Made with FlippingBook Annual report maker