Applemore Health and Leisure centre has opened the long-anticipated indoor soft play with 500 children using the facility in the first few days alone.
The works are part of the not-for-profit leisure trust Freedom Leisure’s £2.4m commitment to improve five New Forest leisure centres.
The PlayZone has a total capacity for 135 children at a time with designated zones for varying age groups including a ball cannon, climbable spider webs and ball pits.
Ross Archibald, Centre Manager at Applemore, said: “We are delighted with the response from the public and have received hundreds of visitors every day since we opened. The feedback has been amazing.”
“We are delighted with the response from the public. The feedback has been amazing.”
Ross Archibald, Centre Manager, Applemore Health & Leisure centre
Improving customer experience is a priority for Freedom Leisure and future developments at the centre include a new reception area and a cafe serving Costa Coffee.
Freedom Leisure CEO, Ivan Horsfall Turner, said: “We are committed to improving lives through leisure and our improvement schemes will enable a wider cross-section of the community we serve to access leisure centres and above all, have fun.”
Ringwood leisure centre will receive upgraded soft play facilities and Totton will gain a new exercise studio and changing room upgrade.
Councillor Geoffry Blunden said: “Freedom Leisure’s commitment to investing in our leisure centres will mean improved facilities which offer residents more opportunities locally to engage in an active lifestyle.”
A PlayZone visitor shared on social media: “My 10-year-old love it. It’s big, loads to explore, and just what the Waterside area needed!”
Freedom Leisure is a not-for-profit leisure trust managing New Forest leisure centres on behalf of the New Forest District Council.
Applemore PlayZone is now open for bookings. Session times are 75 minutes and can be enjoyed by children from birth to age 11.
For more information or to book go to: www.freedom-leisure.co.uk/centres/applemore-health-and-leisure/kids-activities/applemore-playzone.
