On Saturday 12 July 2025, it will be 95 years since Stokewood Leisure Centre in Winton open its doors – and what better way to mark this milestone than with a great line-up of selected FREE activities and a ribbon cutting ceremony.

Saturday 12 July: Games, fitness, and family fun for all
From 9:35am–11:10am residents are invited to kick off the celebrations with a FREE energy-packed 95-minute Les Mills™ Birthday Mash-Up exercise class. Led by BH Live Active instructors, this special class features favourite Les Mills™ workouts like Body Combat, Body Attack, Body Balance, and Core. All ages and abilities are welcome. Spaces are limited, book via the BH Live Active app to avoid disappointment. Free party bags filled with BH Live Active goodies for participants.

From 10am–4pm, the centre will be running family-friendly games including Splat the Rat, Coconut Shy, Hook a Duck, face painting, and more. Cash donations are required to take part and play, with proceeds donated to Aquability Bournemouth, a fantastic local charity helping people enjoy accessible, inclusive swimming activities.

For the little ones, a special birthday-themed Wet & Wacky will take place from 2:15pm-3:05pm. From 3:30pm-4:30pm, a FREE water polo event for Under 16s will be hosted by Bournemouth Swim Club - spaces are bookable online.

Photo opportunity
At 3:15pm, there will be a ribbon-cutting opening ceremony with a special guest, just like the one hosted by Mayor Percy May Bright in 1930. Documents and photography showcasing Stokewood’s history will also be on display in the centre’s new Grab and Go Terrace café.

And for one day only, visitors can also enjoy FREE gym and swim sessions and selected group exercise classes throughout the day.

Sunday 13 July: Time to Unwind
Wind down the weekend with a relaxing Yoga Retreat on Sunday 13 July, from 1pm–5pm.

Costing £25 for non-members and £20 for BH Live Active members, the session includes yoga styles such as Vinyasa and Yin and Nidra meditation to complete and enhance relaxation*. For more information and booking, visit bhliveactive.org.uk/whats-on/yoga-retreat.

Proudly serving the community for nearly a century, Stokewood clocks up more than 300,000 attendances each year including local residents of all ages, school children and local clubs.

It comprises of a well-equipped gym with lift access, 70+ weekly group exercise classes including group cycling, Box Fit, Pilates, Circuits, Aqua Fit, and Les Mills classes, a swimming pool with lane swimming, children’s activities and parties, and is popular with local sports clubs for training including water polo, triathlon training, karate and more. Hundreds of people are learning a vital skill for life through BH Live’s Swimming Academy programme and many more are harnessing the power of exercise and movement to manage their health conditions.

Stokewood Leisure Centre is owned by BCP Council. For 15 years it has been operated by registered charity and social enterprise BH Live whose purpose is to provide community health and wellbeing activities for all.

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

“Celebrating 95 years of Stokewood Leisure Centre serving the community is a proud moment for us all. This centre has played a vital role in helping generations of local people live healthier, more active lives. It’s a space where friendships are formed, confidence is built, and community comes together. As we mark this milestone, we’re excited to celebrate Stokewood’s incredible history while looking ahead to an even more active and inclusive future.”

For more information on centre facilities and opening times, visit bhliveactive.org.uk/stokewood.