Following a recent Quest assessment by Sport England’s trusted trade body, Right Direction, BH Live Active’s leisure centre in North Bournemouth, Pelhams has been graded ‘Very Good’ for its cleanliness and customer service, with the assessor stating that “it was one of the best facilities I have visited this year”.

Benchmarking centres in the sport and leisure industry, assessors look at factors such as cleanliness, operations and people skills. They recognise centres and teams for their commitment to making being physically active an inviting, rewarding, and safe pastime. The rigorous assessment process includes interviews, online research and a mystery visit, to get an accurate picture of a customer’s experience.

Following its major gym refurbishment last year, Pelhams also received extremely positive feedback for the versatility of its equipment, “with something certainly on offer for all fitness goals”. Cleanliness and regular maintenance schedules were also praised, with the fitness studios and gym equipment described as  “brand new and very clean”.

The team received positive reports for their emergency response times, with the centre regularly participating in drills and simulated emergencies throughout the year for staff training and development.

Pelhams’ Terrace Café additionally received recognition for its friendly team and high standards. Its 5-star Food Hygiene rating and range of healthy food were commended as being “fantastic for both customers and staff”. The catering assistants also impressed with their “cheerful nature and interaction with the other customers”.

Pelhams welcomes thousands of visitors every week to its gym, group exercise classes, swimming and lessons, wellness hub, football, tennis, soft play and café.

The centre is operated by registered charity and social enterprise BH Live in partnership with BCP Council.

On behalf of BH Live, Summer Sweatland, Pelhams Centre Manager, shared:

“Our team works incredibly hard to make sure the centre runs as effectively and efficiently as possible. I’m so pleased that the our efforts to make Pelhams a fantastic place to work, play, learn and visit have been recognised.

“To be commended for our commitment to safety, cleanliness and delivering great customer service is just brilliant. Participating in Quest’s assessments provides an opportunity for us to continuously improve the experience of our customers and employees. I’m so proud of the whole team for their dedication and support.”

Sarah Lobo, Head of External Accreditations at Right Directions shared:

“It’s fantastic to award Pelhams Park Leisure Centre with a ‘Very Good’ Quest certification. Pelhams is a superb centre, attracting visitors of all ages and backgrounds. Their commitment to delivering fantastic customer service, cleanliness, and safety is truly commendable.  The team are incredible – friendly, talented, and impressive, it’s clear they are passionate about their roles. Congratulations!”

Visit bhliveactive.org.uk/pelhams for further information.