northgate arena refurbishment

We’re excited to announce that Brio Northgate will fully reopen on Tuesday 5th May 2026 following a multi-million-pound refurbishment!

Thanks to funding from Cheshire West & Chester Council and the expertise of Read Construction, we’ve transformed this much-loved leisure centre into a modern, inclusive, and accessible space designed to welcome and inspire everyone in the community.

Visitors can look forward to a completely refreshed experience, with upgraded facilities to make fitness and leisure even more enjoyable, encouraging more people across the borough to get active and make the most of what’s on offer.

what to expect

Refreshed Gym: 125-station gym will be equipped with the latest technology, new flooring, better lighting, advanced air cooling, and dedicated changing areas.
Transformed Pool Area: The pool will feature interactive play equipment, a modern water slide, upgraded viewing balconies, and improved accessibility with pool pods.
Upgraded Sauna & Steam Room: Private changing rooms and relaxation spaces will be part of the enhanced sauna and steam room
Improved Changing Area: Family-friendly village changing rooms, poolside showers, and separate areas for gym and studio users will offer improved comfort and privacy.
State of the Art Studios: Cycling, multi-activity, and fitness studios will be upgraded with modern flooring, lighting, and air-cooling systems.
Upgraded Outdoor Space: The outdoor area will see improved accessibility, expanded parking, mobility transport storage, and new signage.
Eco-Friendly Solutions: Energy-saving LED lighting, solar panels, and pool filtration upgrades will improve the arena’s sustainability

behind the scenes:

Significant improvements have also been made to enhance the centre’s sustainability, including fitting energy-efficient LED lighting, upgraded pool filtration systems, and the installation of solar panels.

The café and sports hall will not be a part of the reopening, as we plan to introduce a new catering provider and begin the refurbishment of the sports hall. The works will include replacing doors, shutters, and the sports hall floor. We plan to reopen the sports hall in Summer 2026 and vending options will be available for visitors whilst the café remains closed.

A message from our Managing Director:

“The reopening of Brio Northgate marks a major milestone for the city of Chester. The investment not only revitalises a key community facility and will inspire people to move more and enjoy experiences with us. We have been blown away by the loyalty of our customers that have remained with us throughout the refurbishment project, and we can’t wait for them to experience the new improved Northgate along with the many new customers we hope to attract from across the borough and beyond”.

Matthew Parker, Managing Director of Brio

parking & access changes 2nd March to the 1st April

As we complete the final stages of our external improvements, temporary changes to the main entrance and car park remain in place until Wednesday 1st April.

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.

a big thank you to our members

We want to express our heartfelt thanks for your continued support as Brio Northgate enters the final stages of refurbishment. 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.

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stay in the know

With so many exciting changes underway, we want to keep you in the loop every step of the way. Subscribe now to stay updated and be among the first to hear about the brand-new Northgate Arena!

parking FAQ's

Where do I park during the works?

You'll still be able to park on-site, but with fewer spaces available while the works are carried out. You'll need to enter via Trafford Street rather than the main entrance, and a gate attendant will be there to manage vehicles in and out.

It’ll be one-in-one-out, so we'd recommend allowing a bit of extra time when you arrive. Alternatively, there is parking available at:

- Delamere Street car park
- Brook Street car park

Kindly be advised that parking in these car parks incurs a fee.

What should I do if the on-site car park is full?

Is there a map or directions I can follow?

I'm a disabled user or need level access. What do I do?

During the works, there's unfortunately no step-free route from the temporary car park space into the building. If you need level access, we'd ask you to park at Delamere Street Car Park (across the dual carriageway), where there's one designated accessible car parking bay.

If you're visiting for a Brio Wellbeing session or class, please rest assured that your instructor will be on site to assist you in entering and exiting the building.

From there, you can reach the centre via the subway ramp or the level street-crossing further down St Oswald's Way. You'll then enter through a temporary rear entrance via the café fire-exit pathway.

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.

Please call the centre at 01244 380444, and a team member will come out to assist you. There will also be a second mobile phone number visible on the entrance doorway. There will be someone available on site to help customers who need assistance.

Can I still use the centre as normal during this period?

Yes, the temporary facilities remain open throughout. Once you've parked and made your way in, you'll use a temporary entrance via the sports hall. Some routes will feel a little different, but the team will be on hand to guide you through. If you have any concerns about accessing a specific facility or class during this time, feel free to contact Brio Northgate here.

Why is this happening and how long is left on the refurbishment?

These changes are part of the final phase of our refurbishment works at Brio Northgate, so we're nearly there! This is quite a complex part of the project, involving some essential external works to the building. We expect these car park works to be complete by 30^th March after which you'll start to see some brilliant improvements to the centre.

Fingers crossed we can open earlier. If we can, you’ll be the first to know via our social media pages, app and email, so keep your eyes peeled.

Hopefully then the completed refurbished Brio Northgate will be fully open to the public again in Spring 2026.

If you have any further questions before travelling, please contact the centre team who will be happy to help.

Northgate Refurb - FAQs

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I’m on a monthly direct debit membership. What are my options?

We’ve got a few options for you!

Stay as you are to continue using the temporary facilities at Northgate Arena and make use of our other amazing sites (a full list can be found here). You’ll also get access to an exclusive VIP membership offer when we reopen.
Switch to our special £17.95 adult or £11 junior per month deal, which gives you access to Northgate’s limited facilities. Stay with this for the full closure period, and we’ll treat you to a VIP membership offer when we reopen – it’s exclusive, just for you!
Or, if you need a break, you can freeze your current membership with no fuss for the entirety of the refurb. Just let us know what suits you best!

If you’d like to stay as you are, great! Feel free to start using other Brio sites. Otherwise, let us know what you want to do here.

IMPORTANT: Please let us know by Friday 6th December 2024 so your Direct Debit can be correctly edited

I’m on an annual subscription. What are my options?

We’ve got a few options for you!

Stay as you are to continue using the temporary facilities at Northgate Arena and make use of our other amazing sites (a full list can be found here). You’ll also get access to an exclusive VIP membership offer when we reopen.
Switch to our special £17.95 adult or £11 junior per month deal, which gives you access to Northgate’s limited facilities. You will be refunded the difference between the annual fee you paid and the total amount of the temporary offer across the closure period. If stay with us throughout the closure period, we’ll treat you to a VIP membership offer when we reopen – it’s exclusive, just for you!
Or, if you need a break, you can freeze your current membership with no fuss for the entirety of the refurb. Just let us know what suits you best!
You can also be issued with a refund on the time you have left on your annual subscription. There will be a 10 day cooling off period from Monday 6th January. If you do not claim a refund before this date (Thurs 16th January 2025), we will be unable to issue you with one. Please reach out to the Brio team at Northgate Arena and they’ll be happy to help.

If you’d like to stay as you are, great! Feel free to start using other Brio sites. Otherwise, let us know what you want to do here.

IMPORTANT: Please let us know by Friday 6th December 2024 so we can update your payment accordingly. You can let us know your choice here.

I’m on a Swim Only membership. What are my options?

We’ve got a few options for you!

Stay as you are and use the pools at our other centres, including Ellesmere Port Sports Village, Neston Recreation Centre and Christleton Sports Centre. A full list of our centres with pools can be seen here). You’ll also get access to an exclusive VIP Swim membership offer when we reopen.
Or, if you need a break, you can freeze your current membership with no fuss for the entirety of the refurb. Just let us know what suits you best!

If you’d like to stay as you are, great! Feel free to start using other Brio sites. Otherwise, let us know what you want to do here.

IMPORTANT: Please let us know by Friday 6th December 2024 so your Direct Debit can be correctly edited

When will the refurbishment start and when will the building close?

The refurbishment kicks off soon! Both pools will close from 23rd December 2024, the Northgate Arena will be fully closed from Monday the 6th January to Sunday the 12th January. We will reopen on January 13th with a partial offering available through to Spring 2026. We’ll still have some facilities available during this time, but the big transformation will be underway!

We will also need to shut down the gym and sports hall on 16th – 18th December 2024 to move all gym equipment to its new temporary home. Don’t worry, both will reopen again on 19th December.

When will the refurbishment be completed?

Will the gym still be open during the refurbishment?

Yes! While the main building is getting its glow-up, we’ll have a temporary gym space available, so you can still get your workout in. It might be a bit different, but it’s still packed with all the essentials. Although the gym will still be in action, we cannot say the same for our changing rooms. Unfortunately, these and our showers will remain closed throughout the duration of the project. Toilet facilities will remain open though.

Another thing to keep in mind is that we will also need to shut down the gym and sports hall on 16th – 18th December 2024 to move all gym equipment to its new temporary home. Don’t worry, both will reopen again on 19th December.

What will happen to my swimming lessons?

During the refurbishment, we will relocate as many swimming lessons as possible to either Christleton Sports Centre or Ellesmere Port Sports Village. However, our Aquatics Officers will be in touch to confirm that status of your lesson, the new location and class times. Most of our lessons will continue, just in a different pool for now!

Will there be fitness classes during the refurbishment?

Absolutely! We’ll still be running over 60 fitness classes per week in our temporary space. From spin classes to Pilates and yoga, there will be a variety of classes on offer. Check our timetable for what’s on offer. You can also continue to book through our app. Although we’ll still have a packed class programme, unfortunately, our changing rooms and showers will remain closed throughout the duration of the project.

What’s happening to Topsy Tumbles sessions during the refurbishment?

How will access to the centre and car park be affected?

During the works, a section of the car park will be closed. You’ll still be able to access the car park from both directions on Victoria Road, however, it will be a right turn only when you exit. Don’t worry – the rest of the parking area will still be available for use as normal. Just give yourself a bit of extra time to find a spot.

Can I still make block bookings for my club?

What improvements are being made to Northgate Arena?

Where do we start?! The refurbishment includes a refreshed pool area, a state-of-the-art gym, much-improved family-friendly changing facilities, new, modern and dedicated fitness studios, and so much more! We're also adding some eco-friendly upgrades like solar panels and LED lighting to make Northgate greener and more energy-efficient.

With the pool closing throughout, what can I do if I want to swim?

No need to hang up your goggles! Whilst Brio Northgate pools are closed, your Brio membership gives you access to our other swimming pools at Brio Christleton, Brio Neston and Brio Ellesmere Port. You can also visit Chester City Baths on Union Street in the city centre, but please note that this location is not included in your Brio membership or Brio Active Card.

What activities will be on at the Northgate during the closure period?

Even with the refurbishment underway, there’s still plenty to keep you active! While the main building will be partially closed, here’s what you can do in our temporary facilities:

Temporary Gym Space: Stay fit and healthy in our temporary gym, equipped with essential cardio and strength equipment.
Fitness & Spin Classes: Join our selection of group fitness classes, ranging from yoga, spin and pilates to high-intensity training – all running throughout the closure.
Sports and Activities: We’ll continue to offer a variety of sports like badminton, pickleball, table tennis and more in our allocated studio space and sports hall.

However, please note that all changing rooms, showers and both swimming pools will remain closed during the refurbishment.

Will the showers and changing rooms be available during the refurbishment?

Unfortunately, all showers and changing rooms will be closed. We know this might be a bit inconvenient, but we’re working hard to provide the best experience possible with the temporary facilities. If you’re coming for a workout or a class, please arrive ready to go. Thanks for bearing with us – it’ll all be worth it when the new, improved spaces open! The toilets will remain open in the café area as usual.

Will there be any disruption to any of the temporary facilities?

Whilst we’re hoping to keep disruption to a minimum, there may be some changes to some classes and activities during the refurbishment. We’ll always do our best to update you on any changes in advance. Keep an eye on our website and sign up above to stay in the know.

Will reception be open as usual?

Yes, our reception will remain open during the refurbishment! You’ll still be able to pop in for any enquiries, bookings or general support. We’re here to help with anything you need, even while the building gets its makeover! Just bear in mind that access may be a little different, but we’ll make sure it’s as smooth as possible.

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