BH Live, a registered charity and social enterprise and an award-winning leisure and event venue operator, has extended its partnership with Portsmouth City Council for another 10 years.

Following an extensive market assessment and options appraisal, Portsmouth City Council has additionally confirmed BH Live as the official leisure operator for Bransbury Park – a brand-new leisure centre and community hub set to open in winter 2027. More information about the project can be found here.

Since taking on the management of the city’s leisure facilities in 2017, BH Live has worked closely with the council and a wide range of partners to deliver high‑quality services, activities, and community programmes across the Mountbatten Leisure Centre, Pyramids Centre, Portsmouth Tennis & Gymnastics Centre, Wimbledon Park Sports Centre, and Charter Community Sports Centre.

Over the years, the charity has launched new health and wellbeing initiatives, introduced brand-new activities, and delivered significant refurbishment and investment projects across BH Live Active centres, helping even more people enjoy the benefits of being active. Last year, the charity generated £9m in social value across the city and was awarded Leisure Business of the Year at the Portsmouth Business Awards in 2025.

The renewed agreement between BH Live and Portsmouth City Council ensures this partnership can continue to grow, supporting the council’s ambition to improve residents’ health and wellbeing through high‑quality, affordable leisure opportunities.

This new contract extension gives BH Live an exciting platform to build on this progress, with the charity committing to invest further in facilities across the city. These include a full refurbishment of the Mountbatten Leisure Centre’s gym and group cycling studio; the introduction of Reformer Pilates at Pyramids Centre in Southsea; brand-new changing rooms and an updated gym at Wimbledon Park Sports Centre, and continued upgrades across BH Live Active facilities. Further improvements will be announced soon.

On behalf of BH Live, Rob Cunningham, Director of Leisure and Business Development at BH Live, said;

“Renewing our contract with Portsmouth City Council for another 10 years marks an exciting new chapter in our long‑standing partnership. We are incredibly proud to continue working alongside the council to extend our shared commitment of delivering high‑quality, accessible leisure services for the city to get more people active, which is one of our charitable missions.

“We look forward to continuing to build on this strong foundation over the next decade by investing in facilities and programmes that inspire active lifestyles, all while supporting the health and wellbeing of residents across the city.”

On behalf of Portsmouth City Council, Cllr Lee Hunt, Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Community Safety, said:

“Extending our partnership with BH Live is another step forward in strengthening Portsmouth’s leisure and wellbeing offer. As a charitable trust, BH Live reinvests back into community services, and that aligns perfectly with our priorities. This agreement gives long‑term stability, supports active lifestyles, and allows important investment, such as the improvements at Wimbledon Park Sports Centre, to go ahead. It’s a partnership that genuinely benefits local people.”

For more information about BH Live, visit bhlive.org.uk.

For more information about BH Live Active, visit bhliveactive.org.uk.