Revamped Stour Centre set to open 1 June

The Stour Centre is ready to open its doors on 1 June as a £7.5m investment is unveiled. The major refurbishment, which took place during the pandemic, significantly improves the leisure and fitness offer with the new-look centre including:

• a refurbished gym with new equipment,
• a new soft play and clip and climb centre,
• an additional exercise studio,
• improved changing rooms,
• revamped reception and café area,
• new catering offer including Costa Coffee.

Freedom Leisure will be managing the flagship facility, on behalf of Ashford Borough Council. The centre’s refurbishment will provide the Ashford residents and visitors new, additional facilities including a new multi-level soft-play area and a clip ‘n’ climb interactive climbing wall that the whole family can enjoy.

Visitors will also be able to relax, unwind and socialise in the new café serving a wide selection of refreshments including the well-known high street brand – Costa Coffee.

In addition The Stour Centre will offer ‘best in class’ health and wellbeing activities and facilities with a fully refurbished gym with all the very latest equipment including a new BIOCIRCUIT room which is only one of six in the whole of the UK and a full programme of group exercise classes including indoor cycling.

Prior to our opening on Monday 1 June, members of the public wishing to find out more about the new Stour Centre can visit the website and see the new facilities and enquire about joining as a member.

Ivan Horsfall-Turner, Managing Director of Freedom Leisure said; “We are delighted and excited to be opening the new Stour Centre in Ashford on behalf of Ashford Borough Council. A significant amount of investment has gone in to make The Stour Centre one of the best leisure centres in the South-East and we look forward to welcoming people from far and wide to this flag-ship facility.”

Some additional works to the swimming pools have been identified, which were not part of the original plans. They require further work, so the pools will need to remain closed for now, but will open as soon as possible. Further updates will be provided in due course.

Cllr Matthew Forest, portfolio holder for culture, said: “At a time when investment in leisure provision has been severely affected by the pandemic elsewhere, the council is investing significantly, showing the importance placed on providing the very best leisure facilities for our community.

“Due to some additional work on the swimming pools, they will remain closed, however in the meantime, families can enjoy some of the state of the art new facilities on offer from 1 June, such as a the new soft play and clip and climb centre.”

The new-look Stour Centre is just one of a number of community and leisure facilities across the borough being improved, including the Julie Rose Stadium gym, which is also set to be refurbished later this year.