Leisure Industry News - May 2025

Our May review outlines the most recent changes influencing the UK leisure industry.

This month's news demonstrates a focus on innovation, expansion, and recognition across various sectors, from holiday parks bolstering their resilience to new fitness and hospitality ventures. We also see significant investments in sporting and leisure facilities. 

Explore the key stories making waves this month...

• Weir Caravan Park in Yorkshire is the first in the region to install Flood Adaptive Platforms, allowing caravans to automatically elevate during floods. This innovation, by Flood Technology Group, enhances flood resilience, complementing their existing Flood Early Warning System.

• Vale Holiday Parks Ltd has launched the first stage of redeveloping Ocean Heights Holiday Parks near New Quay. The plan involves relocating 47 pitches from two other nearby sites to create additional capacity at Ocean Heights.

• A proposal to build a new golf course in Fraserburgh, Scotland was presented to the public for feedback. Golf course designer Sam Cooper envisions the 200-acre project adjacent to an existing club as a potential boost for the town.

• North Hants golf course, a top English venue, has reopened after a £1.5 million upgrade to its championship layout. The renovation focused on bunkers, enhancing the strategic challenge of the 120-year-old heathland course.

• Whitbread PLC, the parent company of Premier Inn, has agreed to purchase the long-ownerless former Central Plaza site in Carlisle to redevelop it into a modern Premier Inn hotel. This site was cleared by Carlisle City Council in 2020 after the previous structure became unsafe.

• TripAdvisor's 2025 “Travellers' Choice Awards Best of the Best” has named the St. Ermin's Hotel, Autograph Collection in London as the UK's top-rated hotel. This historic and conveniently located property offers easy access to nearby attractions.

• A multimillion-pound extension to Wanstead Leisure Centre is nearing completion, according to Redbridge Council. The £16m project includes a new 25m swimming pool, dance studios, classrooms, accessible changing rooms, and a new reception area.

• Luxe Fitness, co-founded by former Olympian Allyn Condon, will launch its fourth UK location at Paradise Birmingham in late 2025. The new 13,800 sq ft health and fitness club will occupy the lower and upper ground floors of One Centenary Way.

• The Three Graces Spa at Grantley Hall in Ripon has been announced as a finalist in two categories at the Good Spa Guide Awards 2025. It is shortlisted for both ‘Best Hotel Spa’ and ‘Best Spa for Wellness’ at the prestigious UK spa industry awards.



• AFC Bournemouth and Black Knight Football Club have agreed to a binding contract for the acquisition of the Vitality Stadium. The stadium, home to AFC Bournemouth since 1910, will be officially owned by a newly formed entity called Black Knight Stadium Limited.