The Opening of Palatine Leisure Centre & South Family Hub

The Palatine Leisure Centre in Blackpool opened on 11 August 2005 after six years of planning and development. Located on St Anne’s Road in the South Shore area, it is operated by Blackpool Council and shares its site with the Palatine Library and South Shore Academy. The centre offers a wide range of facilities including a 25-meter, 8-lane competition swimming pool with a moveable floor, allowing for swimming competitions, water polo, and sub-aqua diving. There is also a family learner pool designed for swimming lessons and recreational use. The centre includes a well-equipped gym with cardiovascular and resistance machines, functional and exercise studios for fitness classes, an indoor cycling studio, and an Active Wellbeing Suite offering wellness services. Additionally, there is a multi-purpose sports hall, a 1 km outdoor enclosed cycle track suitable for cyclists of all levels, and a 5-a-side 3G football pitch. Visitors can also enjoy refreshments at the Brew Café on site.

The development was a partnership between Blackpool Council and Palatine Community Sports College, combining the council’s plans for a new swimming facility with the college’s ambition to improve its sports amenities. The project received significant funding, including a £4.395 million grant from the National Lottery through Sport England, alongside an additional £100,000 from local sports groups. Since opening, the Palatine Leisure Centre has become a community hub for health, fitness, and sports activities. It also hosts Blackpool’s South Family Hub, which provides various services and support to local families, making it an important facility for the wider community.