Places Leisure is bringing reformer Pilates into its leisure centres

Places Leisure is scaling up its reformer Pilates offering, with plans to roll out dedicated studios across selected sites over the next 12 months as the modality continues its rapid move into mainstream fitness.

The first 12-bed studio will open at Wokingham Leisure Centre in September, offering more than 30 classes a week, with programming divided into three ability levels.

The move reflects the rapid democratisation of reformer Pilates, which is spreading beyond its boutique roots into health clubs and public leisure as operators respond to growing demand across a wider range of demographics.

The Wokingham centre is already offering £5 taster sessions ahead of the full launch, while reformer Pilates is also included in future investment plans at Balham Leisure Centre under Places Leisure’s new Wandsworth contract.

Sam Bryant, head of fitness at Places Leisure, says: “As a public sector operator, we’re committed to making physical activity more accessible to all and that includes keeping up with growing fitness trends and weaving them into our offering.

“Our mat Pilates classes offered across our estate continue to grow in popularity and we hope to grow our reformer Pilates offering by opening several new studios in the next 12 months.

“Previously, reformer Pilates was reserved for more boutique-style studios and not often found at a local leisure centre. With the growing demand for the class across the country and from varying demographics, it is encouraging to see many private and public operators beginning to offer reformer Pilates at more of their centres.”

The investment forms part of Places Leisure’s wider strategy to broaden health, fitness and wellbeing experiences across its estate and reflects a wider premiumisation trend in public leisure, as operators add formats previously associated with boutique and private-sector clubs.

Background

Places Leisure recorded turnover of £174.6 million in the year to 31 March 2025, up 19.4 per cent from £146.3 million, although the accounts say underlying growth was around 6 per cent once the impact of a subcontracted delivery arrangement is excluded.

The business generated £24.2 million in cash, invested £11.3 million directly in facilities and ended the year with cash holdings of £24.6 million, almost double the previous year.

It now operates 106 leisure centres, gyms, pools, sports facilities and community hubs through 34 local authority partnerships, while health interventions delivered through its facilities reached 110,000 people and generated an estimated £161 million in social value.

The company recorded a statutory loss after tax of £279,000, although the company has stated that without an unusual subcontracted-delivery provision, profit before tax would have been around £6.9 million, compared with £5.8 million in FY24.

Places Leisure is part of Places for People Group.