Leisure Industry News - March 2025

In March, we highlight the latest exciting developments and key milestones in the UK leisure industry. From significant hotel and leisure centre projects to innovative golf facilities and major stadium plans, these stories demonstrate the sector’s dynamic growth and transformation.

Here’s a roundup of the key updates making waves this month...

• Preston-based Harrison Holidays secured an eight-figure funding package from HSBC UK to expand into Scotland, acquiring Crofthead Holiday Park in Ayrshire. The 85-acre site adds 575 pitches to the family-run business, bringing its total to over 3,000 across ten UK holiday parks.

• Kelling Heath Holiday Park was voted Premier Parks Campsite of the Year by the public in the Out and About Live Camping Awards. The awards, published by Camping Magazine, feature over 30 categories, with only two, including Campsite of the Year, determined by public vote.

• Two new automated driving ranges, called GolfPods, are set to be built in southeast England. Rickmansworth Golf Club's plan is recommended for approval, while Basildon Sporting Village has already received approval for its facility.

• Dalmuir Golf Club near Glasgow has closed as West Dunbartonshire Council could no longer afford to subsidise it amid a £7.7 million funding gap. After spending £145,000 on the course last year, the council is now exploring a potential community asset transfer.

• Criterion Capital has received planning permission for its first hotel outside London, set to be built on Princes Street in Edinburgh. The project involves redeveloping a former Debenhams within the city's UNESCO World Heritage Site.

• IHG has expanded its presence in the UK by signing eight new hotels, adding over 900 rooms in key locations like Leeds, London, and Reading. The new properties span multiple brands, including luxury Hotel Indigo, premium Crowne Plaza, and the newly launched Garner Hotels.

• Construction of a new £25m leisure centre in Trowbridge is due to begin. The facility will feature a six-lane 25m swimming pool, a learner pool, and a gym with 120 exercise studios.

• Hull City Council has announced a year-long closure of Ennerdale Leisure Centre for an energy efficiency improvement scheme. Work starts in May and the centre is not expected to reopen until Summer 2026.

• Manchester United has announced plans to build a £2 billion, 100,000-seat stadium, replacing Old Trafford, which has been the club's home for 115 years. The proposal for the new facility, known as 'New Trafford,' was met with mixed reactions from fans, who have strong emotional ties to the iconic venue.

• Warminster Sports Centre in Wiltshire is set to reopen its gym this month after a major transformation, including relocating facilities to the ground floor for better accessibility. The first phase is complete, featuring a state-of-the-art fitness suite and refurbished dance studio, while phase two will convert the original upstairs gym into a flexible space for classes.