Following its partnership extension with Portsmouth City Council, registered charity and social enterprise BH Live is upgrading the Group Cycle studio at the Mountbatten Leisure Centre to create an even more immersive, high-energy fitness experience for its customers.

Group Cycle is an energising exercise class set that takes place on high-tech stationary bikes in a studio. It is a low-impact, high-intensity cardio workout that can improve fitness, stamina, and leg strength through simulated rides such as hill climbs, sprints, endurance rides, and interval training.

BH Live Active already offers Group Cycle exercise classes as part of its timetable at the Mountbatten and Pyramids leisure centres in Portsmouth.

Shaped by customer feedback, the refreshed Group Cycle studio will have 25 state‑of‑the‑art Technogym™ stationary bikes, each with high‑quality displays and trackable workouts. The new technology is designed to bring Group Cycle classes to life, giving riders real‑time insights into their performance and keeping motivation high from start to finish.

Currently nine Group Cycle exercise classes take place at Mountbatten Leisure Centre every week, with demand for the sessions continuing to grow. Thanks to this investment, class capacity will be increased, enabling more BH Live Active members and pay‑as‑you‑go customers to take part.

This investment forms part of a wider programme of improvements planned under BH Live’s partnership with Portsmouth City Council. Other proposed upgrades include the introduction of a Reformer Pilates studio at the Pyramids Centre in Southsea, a major gym refurbishment at Mountbatten Leisure Centre, and brand‑new changing rooms and gym equipment at Wimbledon Park Sports Centre.

These investments will improve the leisure facilities across the city and support BH Live’s charitable mission to improve health and wellbeing by encouraging more people across Portsmouth to get active. Further details about the Mountbatten Leisure Centre’s Group Cycle upgrade, along with updates on other planned improvements, will be shared with BH Live Active members and visitors later this year.

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

“Thanks to our extended partnership with the council, we’re delighted to enhance the Mountbatten Leisure Centre’s Group Cycle studio, responding directly to feedback from our customers.

“By improving this experience and increasing class capacity, we’re also enabling more people to take part in the class, whether they’re already regulars or trying Group Cycle for the first time. This investment directly supports our charitable mission to improve health and wellbeing by encouraging more people to be active.”

Located in the heart of Hilsea, Mountbatten Leisure Centre is located just a short distance from Portsmouth’s city centre. It is equipped with a large gym with dedicated cardio and weight areas as well as multiple fitness studios where group exercise classes, including Les Mills™ Body Pump, Pilates, group cycle, and many more take place seven days a week. An outdoor velodrome and athletics track hosts regular training, events and competitions throughout the year.

There is also a 50-metre swimming pool (divided into two) and a learner pool with regular public swimming sessions, pool-based classes and lessons. The swimming pool is frequently booked for galas and competitions, including regional and national championships.

Mountbatten Leisure Centre is also home to a large pool inflatable obstacle course, AquaDash!, an indoor Clip N’ Climb, and MountAirXL, a brand-new air inflatable which launched in October 2025. These attractions are popular with young people, community groups, and are perfect for parties. Spa facilities include a sauna, spa bath and steam room.

The Mountbatten Leisure Centre is also well-known for its health and wellbeing programmes. Qualified instructors and an exercise referral team are on hand to offer guidance and support for individuals recovering from injuries or long-term health conditions.

Multi-sport activities and events are held throughout the year in partnership with local clubs and schools in the centre’s eight-court sports hall. A Terrace Café with customer WiFi, and a children’s soft play facility is also available on site.

Outdoors, there is an athletics track and velodrome utilised for year-round sporting events, as well as several sports pitches.

For more information about Mountbatten Leisure Centre, visit bhliveactive.org.uk/mountbatten.

More information about BH Live can be found online at bhlive.org.uk.