Big changes at Northgate Arena
Brio Leisure is excited to announce the upcoming refurbishment of Northgate Arena, made possible by a significant investment from Cheshire West and Chester Council. This multi-million pound project will bring modern upgrades and new features to our much-loved community hub. From upgraded pool facilities to a refreshed gym and brand-new changing areas, the improvements are designed to meet the needs of the whole community.
Key Highlights Include:
Don’t worry, we’ll remain partially open
In order to complete all this exciting work, the building will partially shut from Monday, 6th January 2025, until Spring 2026. The good news is that we’ll remain open, offering a temporary gym space, fitness classes, and a variety of sports and activities to keep our community active and engaged throughout this period.
What Classes will be available ?
There will be over 60 classes available each week. For a complete list of available classes, check out our updated timetable here. This new schedule will be effective starting January 2nd, 2025.
What to expect
This project is all about giving back to the community. The upgrades are based on what you’ve asked for, like better toilet and changing facilities, improved air cooling and a more modern look throughout the building.
Next steps
On December 16th, 2024, we’ll temporarily close the gym and sports hall to relocate equipment, with both reopening on December 19th. The swimming pools, however, will close on December 23rd, 2024, and won’t reopen until Spring 2026.
Beginning January 6th, 2025, a partial building closure will go into effect, lasting through Spring 2026. During this time, the sports hall, reception, and designated studio spaces will stay open, with gym access, various sports activities, and a temporary fitness class program continuing as usual—so there’s no need to worry!
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.
Stay up to date
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!
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Frequently Asked Questions
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
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.
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
The refurbishment kicks off soon! Both pools will close from 23rd December 2024, and the building will have a partial closure starting Monday 6th January 2025. 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.
We’re aiming to have the all-new Northgate Arena ready for you by Spring 2026. Yes, it’s a little while away, but trust us, the new facilities are going to be worth the wait! If you’d like to be the first to know & get updates straight to your inbox, sign up here.
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.
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!
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.
Don’t worry, we’ve got your little ones covered! A replacement session will run at Frodsham Leisure Centre at the same time. If that’s not convenient, we also have sessions at Ellesmere Port Sports Village on Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:30 – 11:15 am.
During the works, a section of the car park will be closed. You’ll also be able to access the car park from both directions on Victoria Road, however it will be right turn only when you exit. But 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.
With the partial closure starting in January 2025, block bookings may be affected. We’ll be in touch with clubs directly to discuss your options and help make any necessary arrangements. We’re here to help!
Where do we start?! The refurbishment includes a refreshed pool area, state-of-the-art gym equipment, much-improved family-friendly changing facilities, new, modern and dedicated fitness studios and so much more! Plus, we’re adding some eco-friendly upgrades like solar panels and LED lighting to make Northgate greener and more energy efficient.
No need to hang up your goggles! Whilst Northgate Arena’s pools are closed, your Brio membership gives you access to our other swimming pools, including Christleton Sports Centre, Neston Recreation Centre and Ellesmere Port Sports Village. 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.
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 enjoy 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, spinning 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. We appreciate your understanding and can’t wait to welcome you back to brand-new facilities when everything’s ready!
Just a heads up! The sports hall and gym will be closed from 16th – 18th December 2024 while we shift the gym equipment into its temporary home. But don’t worry, we’ll be back up and running by 19th December.
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 good news is the toilets will remain open in the café area as usual.
Whilst we’re aiming to keep disruption to a minimum, there may be some changes to certain classes and activities during the refurbishment. We’ll always do our best to communicate any changes in advance, so you can stay updated on what’s happening. Keep an eye on our website and sign up above to stay in the know.
Yes, our reception will remain open during the refurbishment! You’ll still be able to pop in for any inquiries, bookings or general assistance. 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.