Two York sports centres will reopen this weekend

Good news, fitness fans – two York sports centres are preparing to reopen.

Burnholme Sports Centre and Energise Leisure Centre will open on (25 July) for gym, swim and group exercise classes.

Run by Better Leisure for City of York Council, the centres will have these opening times:

• Burnholme: Monday to Friday 8am-8pm; Saturday and Sunday 8am-4pm
• Energise: Monday to Friday 7am-8pm; Saturday and Sunday 8am-4pm.

Better also runs Yearsley Pool. It will open again in August, but a date has yet to be set.

‘Beach ready’

Following Covid Secure guidance, anyone wishing to use the facilities will need to pre-book a one hour time slot via the Better app or website. 

People will be guided by signs and floor markings around a one-way route around the centres.

In the gyms, some of the equipment has been removed to ensure that two metres social distancing between users is maintained. And some fitness classes will be relocated to sports halls or even, weather permitting, the open air.

Swim customers are requested to arrive ‘beach ready’ with their costume on under their clothes to save time and reduce pressure on change areas.

Gym and studio customers will be encouraged to bring their own drinking water (and mat if needed) – and shower and change at home.

Staff will be adopting a new, enhanced cleaning regime, while customers will be asked to wipe down the equipment that they have used. Hand sanitiser will be available throughout leisure centre buildings.

Paul Bickle of Better said he was delighted to be reopening the facilities. “Keeping people safe is now a shared responsibility and as a leisure operator we will be working in partnership with customers to ensure they have complete confidence when they return.”

Council culture lead Cllr Darryl Smalley said: “I’m delighted that York’s council-owned leisure centres and swimming pools are reopening, giving residents more opportunities and choice about how they exercise.

“Our main priority is the safety of customers and staff at the centres, and I’d echo Better’s request that customers enjoy the newly-opened facilities responsibly.”