State-of-the-art Sports & Activity Centre reopens its doors in Bidston
A popular Wirral leisure centre is now open again following £2.7 million of improvements and upgrades.
After temporarily closing in March 2022, Bidston Sports and Activity Centre (formerly Wirral Tennis and Sports Centre) has undergone a transformation and now offers Wirral residents and visitors access to a brand-new gym, immersive studio, active zone and cafés.
Officially opening the new-look facility, to mark National Fitness Day (20 September), Mayor of Wirral, Cllr Jerry Williams, said:
Investing in sports and leisure is vital not only for the health and fitness of our communities but also for mental wellbeing and reducing isolation – as a runner of 42 years I fully appreciate this.
The new and improved centre now offers people of all ages something to help keep them active and healthy, while the cafés give people the option to socialise and make friends before and after exercise.
Starting and maintaining an exercise habit has been transformative in my life and thanks to facilities like the Bidston site, it will be even easier for many of our residents to get moving too.
The centre boasts a brand new high-specification gym with free weights area and access to the interactive TRAKK app, allowing users to track their workouts and progress.
Additionally, an immersive fitness studio with a floor-to-ceiling screen offers bicycle-led fitness classes – brought to you by international fitness group Les Mills and Invigor8’s fitness instructors.
The Active Zone allows younger visitors to blow off some steam with a vibrant soft play area for for those aged seven and under, and a state-of-the-art ‘Tag Active’ area for over-eights to have fun while keeping active, testing their agility while competing with friends. This is the only Tag Active experience of its kind in Wirral and is available to hire for birthday parties.
The centre has two new cafes in the lobby and Active Zone. Open to Active Wirral customers and the general public, they offer a wide variety of fresh meals, snacks and drinks making it the perfect place for visitors to catch up with friends while entertaining their children or recharging their batteries after a workout.
The redevelopment works were agreed by the Tourism, Communities, Culture and Leisure Committee in June 2022 and funded by the council’s Capital Programme.*
The centre’s 7-a-side outdoor football pitches have also reopened, with five-a-side pitches due to reopen for hire later in the Autumn following the completion of essential maintenance work. Bookings for winter are now being taken. Work on a second full size, all-weather pitch at Bidston is also set to start with funding from the Football Foundation and the council. The new pitch is expected to open early in 2024 and will support the growing demand for football facilities in Wirral.
Indoor tennis courts, which reopened last year, are being managed by an innovative partnership between Wirral Council, Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), Cheshire LTA and local tennis operator, Play Point Sports. More information and booking links for all activities can be accessed here.
It is easy to become an Invigor8 member and enjoy access to Bidston’s Sport and Activity Centre, along with all Wirral Leisure centres; gyms, pools, exercise classes, golf, tennis and more. View a range of Invigor8 Memberships here.
A range of birthday party and private hire packages are available in the Active Zone including the soft play and Tag Active, for a minimum of 10 children and up to 40. For more information on bookings click here.
Bidston Sports and Activity Centre is based at Valley Road, Birkenhead CH41 7EJ.
* Funding from the council’s Capital Programme cannot be used for day-to-day items like running council services. Capital funding can only be used for assets and infrastructure.
