MORE people are now regularly visiting a Bournemouth gym 12 months after a six-figure investment at the leisure centre. 

BH Live Active Pelhams in Manor Farm Road, Kinson, had a £600,000 injection into its gym and studio facilities in 2023. 

Since then, the centre has recorded more than 190,000 visits to group classes and the gym as well as 66,000 swims – a 59.6 per cent increase from the previous year.  

And pay-as-you-go attendance has grown too and more than 600 additional BH Live Active members have signed up to Pelhams. 

Bosses at the leisure centre said they are always looking for ways to inspire people of all ages, weight and abilities to sign up. 

Its ‘wellness hub’, complete with power-assisted machines, is helping those who need a more supported exercise programme.  

Over the past year, the Swimming Academy delivered more than 4,200 hours of lessons to pupils of all ages and abilities.  

This summer, BH Live also invested in a brand-new pool inflatable attraction Raptor Run to attract older children and families into the pool. 

There have also been more than 100 birthday parties hosted in the pool, football pitches and soft play area. 

An assessment earlier this year by Right Directions, Sport England’s trade body, awarded a ‘very good’ grade to Pelhams for its cleanliness and customer service. 

Currently underway is a further £240,000 investment to overhaul six of the centre’s outdoor 3G rubber crumb artificial training pitches used by hundreds of footballers each week.  

This project is due to be completed later in November. 

Centre manager Summer Sweatland said the facilities are “just getting better and better” and that there is “so much to celebrate". 

She said: “Major projects have completed to improve the gym and class facilities. We’ve launched new activities and attractions to inspire more people to come through our doors and get active. And we are taking steps to be more sustainable. 

“Customer feedback has been brilliant, with thousands of people including clubs, community groups, and families regularly visiting us every week.  

“The investment BH Live is making is having an incredibly positive impact in north Bournemouth and it is a privilege to be making a difference to people’s lives.”