Local residents flock to new look Tiller Leisure Centre

Over one thousand visitors and hundreds of new members have flocked to the new and improved Tiller Leisure Centre following its 22-month refurbishment and reopening on 3 January.

The popular local leisure centre was closed in response to the first COVID-19 lockdown in March 2020 and remained closed due to social distancing requirements, during which time improvements were made to the facilities.

A £500,000 investment from Tower Hamlets Council and GLL, who operate the borough’s leisure centres, has breathed new life into the swimming pool, gym and exercise studio, with new paint and low-energy lighting added to extend the life of the centre and make it more sustainable.

It was officially reopened with a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by the Mayor of Tower Hamlets, John Biggs and Team GB Tokyo 2020 Paralympics' silver medallist, Ali Smith on Monday 17 January.

During his tour of the site the mayor watched Canary Wharf College: Easy Ferry Primary School using the five-lane 25-metre swimming pool, one of ten local schools already benefitting from the centre’s reopening and the life-saving potential of swimming lessons. 

John Biggs, Mayor of Tower Hamlets, said:

“It’s great to have Tiller open again. I hope old and new members will come to take advantage of the new and improved facilities on offer, including the 25-metre five-lane swimming pool.

“This is a key step towards building a better borough for our residents and our ongoing recovery from COVID.”

The reopening of the 25-metre pool, with its new tank, lighting, and air handling is a landmark moment for leisure provision locally – taking the total number of available pools in Tower Hamlets to three, with York Hall in Bethnal Green due to reopen in Spring 2022 and a decision pending on the future of St George’s in Shadwell.

Better’s Karen Stevenson, General Manager of the Tiller Leisure Centre, said:

"Everyone at Better is excited to welcome our customers back again to Tiller Leisure Centre.

"We see ourselves very much at the heart of local community health and wellbeing and know the importance our customers place on their local leisure facilities.

"These welcome investments will not only extend the life of the building and create a fresh and bright environment but help us welcome even more people to get more active, more often."