King Alfred Leisure Centre in Hove: Pool closed until Easter

A breakdown of the 40-year-old boilers at the King Alfred Leisure Centre, along with an associated control panel, have forced the latest closure of the pool.

Investigations by specialist contractors found significant problems, which means major work must be carried out to replace the building controls and repair the associated boilers.

Freedom Leisure, which manages the centre on behalf of the council, will be contacting customers with options to suspend memberships and re-locate swimming lessons and will provide regular updates.

Darryl Keech, Brighton and Hove area manager for the firm, said: “We are very disappointed that we are not able to open the pool due to this technical failure.

“We would like to reassure customers that we are doing everything we can to repair the boiler system and its controls.

“This is so we can, as soon as possible, heat the water, re-open the pool and provide the service our customers and the residents of Brighton and Hove deserve.”

Boilers around 40 years old broke down, causing the leisure centre's pools to be closed for several months

The King Alfred building has become increasingly difficult to operate and maintain due to its age, with parts of the centre now over 80 years old. Despite its condition, it is still very well used.

Freedom Leisure is working with council officers and contractors to complete the required works as soon as possible and to keep the facility open until a new leisure centre is built.

Plans to build a more, energy-efficient centre are at a “very early stage”, with many key decisions yet to be taken.

The new centre could be on the current site or on a new site, with the council committed to the location being in the west of the city.

A council spokesman said: “We want to serve the same community that uses the current King Alfred centre, as well as new users.”

Timescales for the new centre are not yet finalised, with work on the project unlikely to begin before early 2025.