The last year has been full of challenges and uncertainty for many. But it’s also posed an opportunity for us to work on something exciting about our name and look which we’re pleased to reveal.
Back in 2019, we first started work to launch a new-look Burnley Leisure brand. But when the Covid-19 pandemic hit, we focused our effort on serving our community with practical help. That included opening centres for testing and vaccination clinics and taking all your favourite health and wellbeing classes online during the lockdown. We were a founding partner of the Burnley Together initiative too.
Now, most of our centres and services have reopened, and we are helping people get back to some sense of normality, living healthier, happier lives and getting together again safely. Â We have also been able to complete the work on our new-look branding.
We’re therefore proud to announce that we’re launching the new look Burnley Leisure branding, which will be re-titled Burnley Leisure & Culture, and all our venues, services and activities will become part of the BLC Group.
Today, our services include food, drink and hospitality, arts and culture, golf facilities, health and fitness. Our venues include Burnley Mechanics Theatre, St Peter’s and Padiham leisure centres, Prairie Sports Village, Towneley Golf Course, Thompson Park Boathouse, The Pavilion, Barden Lane Athletics Track.
We felt that our ambitious approach and expanding range of services needed an identity that better- reflected the quality and breadth. So, we refined what the identity should be for our members and customers. We asked many members for their input and let their suggestions steer our journey.
Here’s a glimpse of how the new brand will look, and where you might see it featured across our different venues.
The new branding is also reflected in our new website, which you’re currently reading. We launched this site at the end of last year, highlighting a world of fun, leisure, culture and hospitality at your fingertips. You can easily find all our offerings based on your interests or needs here.
Growth and awards
Gerard Vinton, Chief Executive at Burnley Leisure & Culture, said: “Over time, we’ve expanded and added exciting new venues, facilities and activities to our offering, all to ensure your experiences with us are the best they possibly can be. It’s a record of growth and broad programme of leisure, culture and hospitality that we’re proud of and we really appreciate the support we receive across the community.
“Established in April 2014, our organisation is a charitable trust which operates the majority of leisure facilities in the borough that were formerly managed by Burnley Council’s sport and culture services.
“Back in 2014, we managed St Peter’s and Padiham leisure centres and the historic listed Burnley Mechanics Theatre. Then in 2015, we opened the £2.5 million Prairie Sports Village offering golf, conference and football facilities. The next year a short game area and mini-golf options were added there.
“In 2017, beautiful Towneley Golf Course’s 18-hole and pitch-and-putt courses and its golf shop were transferred to our trust, followed by the clubhouse bar and bistro the next year. Elsewhere in 2018, we invested £50,000 in changing areas and disabled facilities for the St Peter’s Leisure Centre pool.
“In 2020, additional funding was secured for another 3G full size pitch at Prairie and it has more recently been enhanced with new hospitality, business and events areas and Toptracer golf range technology.
“Over the past few years, we’ve enjoyed awards successes too. These include being National Fitness Awards Finalists in 2014 for two categories, winning National Health Club Silver and Gold awards in 2014; being named National Fitness Awards Group Exercise Facility of the Year 2019 and winning three National Fitness Awards and being named National Gym of the Year 2016.
“Today, our commitment to the borough, community and local economy has never been stronger.  As lockdown eases and more people enjoy our activities, venues and hospitality again, now is an exciting time to launch a new brand that better-highlights our borough’s offerings, attractions, successes and our future together.”
We look forward to seeing you in the coming weeks and months. Watch out for more news soon.
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