Grantham Meres Leisure Centre, located on Trent Road just east of Grantham town centre, is the town’s premier public sports and wellbeing complex. Owned by South Kesteven District Council and operated by 1Life, the centre underwent a £600,000 modernisation unveiled in August 2015 with an open day that drew hundreds of residents eager to try its upgraded facilities. The renovation doubled the gym’s size and equipment inventory, added new cross training, cardio, strength and toning machines, and introduced interactive built-in screens and Nike+ iPod syncing capabilities.
A dedicated indoor cycling studio featuring MyRide entertainment screens and a second group exercise studio brought total structured classes up to 128 per week – 100 more than previously offered. Facilities include a 25-metre eight-lane pool, learner pool, leisure pools with water sprays and a flume, three sports halls, an outdoor running track, and a modern 3G football pitch shared with the adjacent South Kesteven Sports Stadium. Guests also enjoy amenities like a remodelled reception area and a Costa Coffee café on-site.
The centre’s performance earned it an ‘excellent’ rating under Sport England’s Quest quality scheme, with particular praise for its swimming lesson programme, lifeguarding, environmental management, and ongoing staff improvement planning.
Beyond sports and fitness, the centre hosts large-scale community events. Upcoming happenings include a Mind Body Spirit wellness fair scheduled for September 2025 and family-friendly concerts like the ELO Encounter rock tribute show. It also provides holiday activity camps in partnership with Fit for Sport, delivering free or subsidised activity sessions and healthy meals to children during school breaks.
In all, Grantham Meres Leisure Centre combines modern fitness and aquatic amenities with community minded events, year-round programming, and a growing environmental footprint – making it a vital hub for health, leisure, and civic engagement in Grantham.
Photos courtesy of LincsOnline, Hussle, and Kidify.co.uk.
