Leisure Industry News - June 2025

Our June review highlights the latest developments shaping the UK leisure industry. 

This month's news showcases significant investment, strategic expansion, and notable recognition across various sectors. This ranges from holiday parks enhancing their offerings and historic sports venues undergoing major redevelopments, to hotel groups strengthening their portfolios and potential new leisure facilities emerging. 

Below is a closer look at the key stories defining this month's leisure landscape...

• Butlin's has recently invested millions into a new soft play and activity centre at its Bognor Regis site and is now delighted to be shortlisted in two categories at the 2025 British Travel Awards. They're nominated for "Best Company for UK Parks and Lodges Holidays" and "Favourite Company for Radio Advertisements".

• Presthaven Sands Holiday Park near Prestatyn has received planning permission to refurbish its adventure village and expand its play area. The upgrades, proposed by Haven will introduce new attractions like an aerial adventure course, zip wire, climbing wall, bungee trampolines, an inflatable arena, and dedicated play zones for children and dogs.

• Leslie Golf Club, a popular nine-hole Scottish course, has fully reopened to visitors on 1st June after a challenging period. The Tom Morris-designed parkland course, located near Glenrothes, had been closed since September 2023 due to damage from storms and heavy flooding.

• Park Plaza, a Netherlands-based hotel group, has strengthened its UK presence by acquiring the freeholds of Park Plaza Leeds and Park Plaza Nottingham. The company, which had been managing both properties, plans significant investments to improve them.

• IHG Hotels and Resorts has acquired the Hilton in Manchester's Beetham Tower, a landmark hotel with significant renovation plans. It will soon operate as The Manchester Deansgate Hotel before its full transformation into the InterContinental Manchester Deansgate by 2027.

• Stevenage Swimming Centre could be demolished and replaced with a new sports and leisure facility, according to a planning application submitted to Stevenage Borough Council. The proposed new centre would feature a 25m, 10-lane competition pool, a teaching pool, splash pad, and sauna/steam rooms, and would be built on the existing car park, allowing the current facility to remain operational until the new one opens.

• Freedom Leisure, an experienced operator of 130 leisure centres, will take over the management of Shoeburyness Leisure Centre and Southend Leisure and Tennis Centre from Fusion Lifestyle starting 1st July. Southend Council anticipates that this new contract will bring long-term financial benefits, and immediate improvement works across both facilities.

• To boost Anglesey tourism, Parys Mountain is set to gain a £640,000 museum and visitor centre, according to updated plans. This inactive copper mine near Amlwch, popular for its unique Martian landscape, had been mined since the Bronze Age.

• Harrogate Ladies College will become co-educational and rebrand as Duchy College from September next year, ending over 130 years as a girls-only school. This move aims to bolster the school's finances in response to declining boarding numbers, reflecting a national trend.

• Morgan Sindall Construction has been appointed to lead the extensive redevelopment of the Grade II-listed Crystal Palace National Sports Centre. Commissioned by the GLA, the project aims to restore the historic 10-hectare venue as a premier home for UK athletics by 2028.