All three swimming pools at Gateshead Leisure Centre have reopened after a mechanical fault forced their sudden closure on Wednesday evening. The centre announced the reopening on Thursday afternoon, stating that the issue with the pool plant room had been resolved.
Closure due to unforeseen circumstances
On Wednesday, Gateshead Leisure Centre said all three pools were closed "until further notice" due to "unforeseen circumstances." In an online statement, a spokesperson said: "Due to unforeseen circumstances, we unfortunately have to close all 3 pools until further notice. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding."
Bosses later confirmed the closure was caused by a mechanical fault in the pool plant room, which houses equipment used to circulate, clean, heat, and disinfect swimming pool water. The issue has now been fixed, and the pools reopened from 2pm.
Reopening and community response
In an update, a spokesperson said: "We’re really pleased to let everyone know that the mechanical issue with our pool plant has now been fixed and all three pools will be reopening this afternoon from 2pm. Our team and the experts involved have worked hard to identify and resolve the fault as quickly as possible, and we’re delighted to be able to welcome everyone back."
The spokesperson added: "We know the closure caused disruption and concern, and we’re sorry for the inconvenience. As a community-run charity, the last thing we wanted was an unexpected issue with such an important part of our centre, so we’re incredibly relieved to have it resolved so quickly."
Centre's recent history
Gateshead Leisure Centre recently marked two years since reopening after being saved by non-profit organisation Gateshead Active. The venue had been closed for 11 months in 2023 following Gateshead Council budget cuts. It now employs around 60 staff and has just under 2,400 paying members.
