LIFESTYLE - SUMMER 2017

CHANGE HAS COME

From the grand opulence of the recently-refurbished town hall – to a fabulous faceli for Hyndburn’s fitness and leisure centre...

...to Accrington!

Trust and is part of the teamoverseeing the exciting changes taking place there. “My role is to bring external funding for projects like this with the developments thenmanaged by Joanne, our Head of Leisure Facilities alongside the Council’s Facility Development Team.” Ben says: “We are very pleasedwith how the pool looks now. It was ready for a refurb aer 40 years. It ismuchmore energy efficient. There’s no longer a deep endwhichmeans 90 tonnes less water to heat. The changes weremadewith grants fromHyndburn Borough Council and Prospects Foundation andmajor improvements include new tiles, ceiling and training pool. More roomhas beenmade for activities such as aqua-type fitness classes including aqua jog and aquacise. Another much anticipated arrival at the Leisure Centre is ‘Adventure City’ – amassive soplay centrewith party rooms, self-contained café and a ‘MUGA’ which is a need and self-contained basketball and football pitch. Adds Ben: “In terms of deciding how to use our investment at the Leisure Centre therewas a large team involved and plenty of market research gathered.We identified the rise in popularity of soplay for kids, and also a gap in themarket for a large facility with suitable parking in the area. Hyndburn Leisure Centre really is perfect for this facility andwe can’t wait to see it open in the comingmonths. “We also runMercer Hall Leisure Centre in Great Harwood. This was the location for another council funded project which opened last year. It’s called the FeelGood Suite, and is very different fromyour traditional gym in that it does all thework through toning tables. “Our facility is for ladies only and is proving really popular.” Staff at Hyndburn Leisure are keen to do their bit to raisemoney for the charity which runs the leisure services. Kerry has been training hard at the leisure centre for the LondonMarathon on April 23rd and is hoping to raise £3,000whichwill go towards community projects in the area. Adds Kerry: “I ran it last year but had a hip injury which I’d endured shortly before themarathon. The aim is to do it properly this time, so I’ve been eating right, trainingwell and following the program. My personal trainer at Hyndburn Leisure Centre has been onmy case – so fingers crossed – there will be no problems this time!”

Kerry adds: “The grand staircase, red carpet and beautiful ballroom really lends itself toweddings. We have welcomed couples frommany different backgrounds and cultures andwith different budgets. The beauty of our packages is our flexibility. Lovebirds can tie the knot at theTown Hall seven days a week. For just £1,500, themain wedding package includes the venue and a complementary wedding night at the nearby Dunkenhalgh Hotel. At no extra cost, you can choose your own catering staffor management will direct you to their preferred companies, offering full use of the state-of-the-art kitchenwhichwas revamped during the refurbishment. Over at Hyndburn Leisure Centremoney has also been pumped into the swimming pool– its first faceli for four decades. Kerry recalls her student days as a lifeguard at the pool. “When I first joined Hyndburn Leisure, a senior manager came up and said, ‘Kerry, I’ve got a job for you.We need to empty the pool.’ He told me to dive down to the boomof the 10 end and carefully pull the plug out. Sure enough, I wasn’t able to locate the plug and as I rose to the surface thewhole teamwere standing round the pool just laughing at me!” Kerry’s colleague Ben Caulfield is Marketing&Business Development Coordinator for the Hyndburn Leisure

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ith its outstanding architecture, grand sweeping staircase and breathtaking ballroom, AccringtonTown Hall is a venue to be reckonedwith. The 19th-century building is the perfect choice for any grand occasion or event which deserves a spectacular seing at a fabulous price. Weddings, balls, festivals, fayres, filmand theatre productions and private parties are just a fewof the gliering affairs to have taken place in the newly-refurbished rooms over the past fewmonths. Kerry Smith is Cultural ServicesManager for Hyndburn Leisure – the charity whichmanages leisure services on behalf of the council. Kerry says: “We can hold preymuch anything here at theTown Hall.We had a charity boxingmatch and dinner at the beginning of the year.We also have a fully-fied dance studio for hire, and in Junewewill host our first ever gin festival.” While the council has invested around £1 million so far the aim is for both theTown Hall and Hyndburn Leisure Centre to become financially self- sufficient by 2020. Adds Kerry: “To get us to the point wherewe can generate our own revenue we needed investment at both theTown Hall and the leisure centre.We are thrilledwith the changes to both so far.” The ballroomhas a capacity of 350, while 240 people can be comfortably placed for a sit-downmeal. There is a fully sprung dance floor, purpose- built stage and two elegant bars.

Accrington Town Hall is a venue to be reckoned with

Top left: Accrington Town Hall. Top and bottom right: The Town Hall... perfect for any occasion. Opposite from Top: • The Grand Staircase at the Town Hall. • Mercer Hall Pool. • Hyndburn Leisure Centre Classes, Gym and Pool.

For more information about the services on offer in Hyndburn, visit www.accringtontownhall.co.uk and www.hyndburnleisure.co.uk

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