From 1 September 2025, Places Leisure memberships, bookings, courses and colleagues at The Quays, Bitterne Leisure Centre, Chamberlayne Leisure Centre and the Outdoor Sports Centre in Southampton will be transferred to BH Live.
Our priority is to provide you with continuity of service wherever possible and minimise any disruption.
Below are some answers to our most frequently asked questions.
Yes – The Quays, Bitterne Leisure Centre and Chamberlayne Leisure Centre will be temporarily closed on Monday 1 and Tuesday 2 September 2025 - reopening on Wednesday 3 September 2025 at the usual time.
This is so we can get to know the great teams in centres better, undertake some mandatory training, and carry out essential centre checks and maintenance including a deep clean.
The Outdoor Sports Centre will remain open and operational as usual.
Initially, yes. All opening hours, session times, lessons, courses and bookings will remain the same and run as usual.
As we update the programme to introduce new activities, we’ll let you know in centre, online, and via the BH Live Active app.
No – we’re pleased to say that you will still see the same familiar faces who’ve served you before, plus a few new ones too.
Please be patient. Changing over systems, policies and processes takes a little time and can be challenging for everyone involved. Please be patient while everyone adjusts and gets up to speed as quickly as possible.
Access control will be in place at The Quays Diving Complex, Bitterne Leisure Centre and Chamberlayne Leisure Centre from Wednesday 3 September 2025. Please bring your current membership card to gain access to the centre.
If you currently access the centre using a digital barcode, we can issue you a replacement card at reception.
No – Southampton City Council owns the leisure facilities and BH Live (a registered charity and social enterprise) will be managing the daily operations under its recognisable brand name of ‘BH Live Active’. You can find out more about BH Live and BH Live Active online.
Parking arrangements continue to operate as usual and there are no changes to how you currently park at the centre. If you use a car parking permit when visiting The Quays, you may need to ask to get this renewed in centre – please allow enough time to do this when you visit.
We also advise you take public transport, walk or cycle to the centres wherever possible.
If you have a question, we recommend you come and have a chat with us in centre where we can access all the information you might need including account and payment information.
You can also find out more online, follow our news page, read more on the BH Live Active app, and follow each centre on Instagram.
You might also find what you need on our Help Centre. You can also send us a message via our contact us page and we’ll come back to you as soon as we can.
There is no need to do anything. Memberships, lessons, and any other subscriptions for The Quays, Bitterne Leisure Centre and Chamberlayne Leisure Centre will be automatically transferred over to BH Live who will contact you directly.
If you pay by Direct Debit, BH Live will collect any payments from Monday 1 September 2025 – this change will be communicated to you.
If you signed up for an Active Nation or Places Leisure membership at The Quays, Bitterne or Chamberlayne Leisure Centres, your existing membership terms and conditions will apply until your membership expires.
From 1 September 2025 any new memberships will be on BH Live Active’s membership terms and conditions – read these online https://bhliveactive.org.uk/termsandconditions.
All BH Live Active memberships are multisite – at no additional cost. Our memberships are regularly reviewed to ensure they offer the best value for money.
Concessionary memberships are available for certain age groups and people in receipt of selected benefits.
New membership sign-ups will be available from Monday 1 September. Find out more online or when we reopen from Wednesday 3 September.
Your membership is safe. Because BH Live Active is multisite, you will also be able to access all three BH Live Active leisure centres in Southampton (BH Live Active, The Quays, Bitterne and Chamberlayne) as an added benefit.
Bookings for group exercise classes, swimming, junior activities and sports can be made either in centre, online or via the BH Live Active app.
Activities are available to book up to seven days in advance. This is available for both members and PAYG customers from Wednesday 27 August 2025.
Bookings and activities are running as usual at The Outdoor Sports Centre from Monday 1 September 2025.
There is a temporary two-day centre closure at The Quays, Bitterne Leisure Centre and Chamberlayne Leisure Centre on Monday 1 and Tuesday 2 September. From Wednesday 3 September, activities, lessons and courses at those centres will run as usual.
If you have a booking that is affected by the temporary two-day closure, please speak with us in centre from Wednesday 3 September.
Further information about swimming lessons will be sent to Swimming Academy members.
Block bookings will continue as normal (please see above note about temporary centre closures on 1 & 2 September). Please be patient with the teams whilst they learn new procedures and systems.
From 3 September, if you have a question, please come and speak with us in centre. Alternatively, you can send us a message via our online contact us page and we’ll come back to you as soon as we can.