Brio Northgate is now in the final stages of its refurbishment, made possible thanks to the support of Cheshire West and Chester Council and the hard work of Read Construction. With most of the major construction complete, we’re focusing on the finishing touches that will make your experience safer, smoother, and more enjoyable when you return.
behind the scenes
Key areas are now taking shape, with the sauna, steam room, and squash courts substantially complete. Swimming pool areas have been completely overhauled, including the creation of new viewing areas and the installation of acoustic panelling to improve customer experience.
Modern and welcoming changing rooms on both ground and first floors are close to completion. External works continue, with final stages currently being agreed.
A new flume has been installed and the specialist contractor iPlay is preparing to install brand-new water play equipment.
We've also shared the good news that the whale is staying in the main pool and will be getting a fresh lick of paint.
parking & access changes 2nd to 30th March
As we complete the final stages of our external improvements, there will be some temporary changes to the main entrance and car park layout from Monday 2nd March to Monday 30th March.
Everything runs as normal up to and including Sunday 1st March. After that, things will look a bit different until the end of March.
from 2nd March:
- You won't be able to use the main entrance, it will be closed.
-
Instead, you'll enter via Trafford Street, where a gate attendant will manage vehicles in and out (it's a narrower route, so bear with us)
-
The car park will still be open, but with fewer spaces. At peak times the car park may reach capacity, so please allow extra time for your visit or consider alternative nearby parking where possible.
-
Allow extra time when you arrive. The route up to the car park is tighter than usual and will be one-in-one-out.
-
Once parked, follow the new pedestrian route up the steps into the temporary sports hall entrance
new entrance directions:
car park map:
car park walkthrough:
accessible parking & access
Unfortunately, there's no step-free route from the temporary car park into the building during the works. So if you need level access, here's what to do:
Park at Delamere Street Car Park (across the dual carriageway)
There's one designated accessible parking bay outside or there are numerous accessible spaces in the multi-storey parking building.
From both car parks, you can reach Brio Northgate either:
- Via the subway ramp, or
- By using the level street-crossing further down St Oswald's Way (easier if you want to avoid ramps)
Being dropped off? You can be dropped off by the current main entrance to the car park and make your way through the pedestrian route around to the accessible entrance near the rear of the cafe.
Once you're at the centre, you'll access the building through a temporary rear entrance via the café fire-exit. We’ve set this up specifically for this period.
Please remember to call the centre at 01244 380444 on arrival and someone from the team will come out to assist.
FAQs
support during the final phase
We know this isn't perfect. It's the safest option we could arrange for this short construction window, and we really appreciate your understanding.
We have contacted customers who we know may be affected and our team will be available on site to provide assistance where needed.
Let's be honest, this phase is going to need a bit of patience from everyone. Traffic will be tighter, parking busier and routes different. But it's temporary, and once we're through it, you'll see some brilliant improvements at Brio Northgate.
Our team will be on-site throughout to guide you, answer questions, help disabled users and keep things moving as smoothly as possible.
We'll also have posters up, app updates, social media updates and all the handy info you’ll need will be on our Brio Northgate refurb web page.
If you've got questions, just get in touch.
temporary arrangements run as normal
While we complete the final stages of the refurbishment. You can still access:
-
Temporary gym space
-
Fitness classes
-
A variety of sports and activities to stay active
Swimming pools remain closed and are scheduled to reopen in Spring 2026. In the meantime, you can enjoy swimming at Brio Ellesmere Port and Brio Christleton nearby.
what to expect
a big thank you to our members
We want to express our heartfelt thanks for your continued support as we prepare for the exciting refurbishment of Northgate Arena. Your loyalty means a great deal to us, and this project wouldn’t be possible without the incredible community we serve. While we make these much-needed upgrades to improve your experience, we truly appreciate your patience and understanding.
