BH Live kickstarts Southampton investment programme

BH Live has relaunched three refurbished local authority gyms across Southampton

The upgrades were delivered in partnership with equipment provider Pulse Fitness

Enhancements include expanded free weight spaces, functional fitness zones, and modern redecorations

The facilities upgraded were Bitterne Leisure Centre, Chamberlayne Leisure Centre, and The Quays

BH Live has relaunched three gyms that it runs on behalf of Southampton City Council, following refurbishments to create modern training environments.

The upgrades include new cardio and strength equipment, alongside expanded free weights and stretching areas. Dedicated functional fitness zones have also been added, while the gyms have been fully redecorated with feature lighting and contemporary finishes. The new cardio equipment includes integrated digital screens, wireless phone charging and access to streaming services. 

All three sites continue to offer Les Mills classes.

The three centres to receive an upgrade are Bitterne Leisure Centre, Chamberlayne Leisure Centre and The Quays – one of only four High Performance Diving Centres in the UK. Together, the sites provide a mix of elite sport, family leisure and community fitness and form part of Southampton City Council’s wider strategy to modernise leisure facilities, encourage more residents to become physically active and improve community wellbeing.

The refurbishment programme follows BH Live’s appointment as Southampton City Council’s leisure operator in September 2025, after the charity was selected through a competitive tender process. The contract had previously been managed by Places Leisure, with the centres operated by Active Nation until the charity withdrew in 2025 following financial difficulties. Other organisations bidding for the new contract included Testlands, Leisure Focus Trust, Sports and Leisure Management Ltd and Wealden Leisure Ltd.

The investment has been delivered through the partnership between BH Live and Southampton City Council, although neither organisation has disclosed the value of the refurbishment programme or the breakdown of funding.

Rob Cunningham, director of leisure and business development at BH Live, said: “As a charity and social enterprise, our focus is always on improving the health and wellbeing of the communities we serve.

“Thanks to our partnership with Southampton City Council, we’ve been able to create modern, welcoming and inclusive fitness spaces that will support people of all ages and abilities to be more active and achieve their health and wellbeing goals.

“Feedback from members and customers who have already visited has been incredibly positive, and we’re excited to encourage more people to enjoy these fantastic new facilities.”

The gym upgrades form part of a wider programme of investment across Southampton’s leisure estate. BH Live also operates the Outdoor Sports Centre and manages the city’s sports pitch bookings, while a major redevelopment of the Outdoor Sports Centre is currently underway and scheduled for completion in 2027.