Sobell Leisure Centre redevelopment

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In addition to the refurbished gym and squash courts, we have now opened a brand new, purpose built gymnastics zone at the Sobell Leisure Centre.

The gymnastics zone, pictured below, is fitted with state-of-the-art equipment and a fully sprung floor. The brand-new gymnastics hall is a dedicated space to allow people of all ages to develop their skills and includes facilities such as a sprung floor area, high bar, asymmetric bars, 2 adjustable high beams, a vault, wall bars and so much more. Children and young people can join the RISE gymnastics programme, taught by professional coaches using the latest equipment.

Programme of reopening

Sobell centre users have been enjoying the refurbished gym and squash courts, and are now able to access the gymnastics zone.

The remaninder of the centre will reopen as follows:

• October (open for half term): the new main entrance and café will open, along with the exciting new Active Play zone for children under 10 years old. See the new fly through videos on this page to see what it will look like.
• February 2025: the changing rooms will open, complete with a new Changing Places toilet making the centre more accessible for those with disabilities.
• Spring 2025: a new eight-court multi-purpose sports hall with new sprung flooring, lighting, floor markings and equipment; the new Active Arena providing an inflatable area, trampoline zone, zip challenge and strike challenge for adults and older children. Check out the videos and photos on this page.

Due to unavoidable issues that have emerged on site during construction, this programme has been delayed and is now due to be complete in early Spring 2025.

Sobell Leisure Centre also offers fitness sessions, football, gymnastics, and activities solely for young people, people aged 55+, and women and girls.

Background: Sobell Leisure Centre Redevelopment

The Sobell Leisure Centre is a much-loved leisure and sporting facility providing a range of facilities for residents and visitors.

In August 2022, the centre suffered a major flood due to a Thames Water main bursting. The flood affected the entire ground floor of the centre, including all the facilities and fittings such as the trampoline park, ice rink, squash courts, gym and soft play area, which require extensive repair works.

Due to the devastation caused by the flood, the council took the opportunity to revisit the facilities and services on offer at the centre and make sure that as many people as possible can enjoy the centre.

The council’s exciting plans for the centre were approved in July 2023. This followed a six-week consultation, in which 1,003 people put forward their ideas, insights, and vision for the centre.

During the consultation, local people told how they wanted to see a more inclusive range of activities. The council and GLL – the charitable enterprise that runs the centre on the council’s behalf – have taken time to look at the results of the consultation to ensure that the redesign of the centre best meets what local people have said, and are delighted to make the following, transformative improvements:

• Working directly with groups that are typically underrepresented in sports to create a programme of activities that is inclusive for all. This will result in targeted sessions for specific groups, inclusive sports such as wheelchair basketball, and multi-generational sessions the exact programme is still in development. .
• The new sports hall, as well as the sports that it previously hosted such as badminton, volley ball, basketball, indoor football will now also include handball and netball. The volley ball facilities will be improved and will be able to host European tournament matches.
• Creating a high-energy, fun, active zone for people of all ages.
• Expanding and improving existing facilities, including the dojo and boxing gym.

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For any questions, or for more information regarding the Sobell Centre, please email: sobell@islington.gov.uk