A £600,000 renovation of the gym at Watford Leisure Centre – Woodside is now complete, providing local residents with a modernised space for fitness and training. The project, which was officially announced on 20 April 2026, marks the first major upgrade to the site since 2018.
The facility is managed by Everyone Active on behalf of Watford Borough Council. The improvements feature new equipment, including Life Fitness and Hammer Strength machines across the cardio, resistance, free weights, and functional training areas. In response to feedback from a survey regarding how members use the gym, additional squat racks and benches have also been installed.
To support the growing popularity of specialist exercise routines, the centre has added new Watt bikes and dedicated functional fitness equipment. The facility includes 140 stations for visitors to use. Watford FC legend Luther Blissett joined staff at the site to view the new equipment following the completion of the work.
Alan Gough, Director of Sustainability, Environment and Communities at the council, stated that the investment ensures local facilities continue to meet the needs of an active community. Iain Milton, the contract manager for Everyone Active, added that the upgrade provides a more welcoming environment for visitors.
This project is part of a broader investment programme led by the council, which has also recently overseen a £3 million refurbishment at the town’s Central leisure centre. These developments have been supported by Elected Mayor Peter Taylor, while the council has also frozen council tax for the 2026/27 year.
About this article: This story was put together with the help of AI tools and checked by a real person on our team. We're a small crew trying to cover as much of the UK as we can on a limited budget. We're getting better every day - but we're not perfect yet. If something looks off, let us know. You're part of the process.
