Guildford Spectrum Leisure Centre

Built to take leisure provision in the Guildford

area forward into the 21 st century.

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Introduction

Guildford Spectrum is owned and managed by Guildford Borough Council. It was built to take leisure provision in the Guildford area forward into the 21 st century. The previous leisure centre was built in the 1970s and as such was beginning to show signs of wear and tear. In addition, demand for leisure was increasing and space for customers was decreasing. The leisure centre also needed financial support from Guildford Borough Council of around £300,000 per annum.

Spectrum cost £28.154 million to build. The country was in the grip of recession at the time and had it not been for the sale of two pieces of land, the facility could not have been built. The existing leisure centre site, situated in Bedford Road , was sold to Odeon Cinemas and the sale of Banisters Athletics track, which, like the Bedford Road centre, could not cope with demand and was steadily deteriorating, was sold to Tesco Superstores. This meant that no money came from council reserves to build the facility.

Local authorities find it incredibly difficult to provide a wide range of facilities for the public at their leisure centres, which returns a financial surplus (one of the main reasons for Compulsory Competitive Tendering) and this was something Guildford Councillors recognised. The new complex, therefore, incorporates conventional facilities such as the competition pool, arena, squash courts and aerobics studio, with commercial facilities such as the bowling centre, ice rink, leisure pool and health and fitness suite as well as branded catering. This means that rather than being a burden on council expenditure, Guildford Spectrum is one of only a handful of local authority owned leisure facilities that make an operating surplus. Much of the surplus each year is reinvested into the Complex, for the renewal of plant and equipment and improvement to the services and facilities for customers.

The 26 acres of beautifully landscaped parkland in which Spectrum was built is owned by the Borough Council and as such, was free. The location was crucial as, due to its size, it had to be out of town but also accessible to as many people as possible. The access to the facility is excellent with more than 700 free car parking spaces, a shuttle bus which runs between Spectrum, the railway station, Surrey University and the town centre and there is also easy access to the M25 via the A3.

Corporate image is not widely used by local authorities for leisure centres, but as Spectrum is marketed as not only a facility for local residents, but also as a tourist attraction and major events venue, branding is essential. The name of the complex was decided through a competition within the borough and sums up the numerous facilities, activities and schemes on offer. The Spectrum flame was designed to incorporate parts of the Guildford Borough logo and to be completely unique. Inspiration came from the Olympic flame as the Olympics bring many people together for a variety of different activities, something Spectrum is also proud to do.

Disability Information

Spectrum is fully accessible with ramps and lifts to all floors and facilities. The induction loop is fitted at reception areas. Two chair hoists are available to gain access to the 25m pool. Appropriate changing facilities are available.

Wheelchairs are allowed on Spectrum Ice Rink and ramps are available to Spectrum Bowl.

All areas have accessible toilet facilities.

Disability Sports - It is the philosophy of Guildford Spectrum to create an inclusive environment whereby disabled people can access all services provided within the centre either alongside non-disabled people or as a separate session. We encourage customers to let staff know if we are not meeting your needs. We aim to cater for all people, the majority of courses and coaches can accommodate people with disabilities or special needs.

Carers go free when accompanying a disabled person.

Facilities

The facilities available at Guildford Spectrum are:

4 Swimming Pools
Olympic Sized Ice Rink
Tenpin Bowling Centre
Indoor Arena
Aerobics Studio
Beauty Therapy
Relaxation Area
Fitness Suite
Soft Play Area
Squash Courts
Spinning Room
Crèche
Ice Station Zero – Laser Tag
American Pool Deck
All Weather Athletics Track
4 Catering Outlets
2 Licensed Bars

Spectrum is set in 26 acres of parkland and is on 4 floors (including staff only basement area), with the actual building covering 10,300 metres 2 . Guildford Spectrum attracts 1.8million visitors per year at an average of 30,000 to 35,000 a week. During February half term over 55,000 visits are made in 7 days.

Swimming Pools

Spectrum's pools complex features 4 pools - a diving pool, teaching pool, competition pool and leisure pool. The leisure pool now includes five slides; the Aqua-Whizz, Tyre Ride and the Super Slide, which have been in place since the complex opened and 2 further rides; the Surf Slide and Sandy Creek completed in August 2002. Spas, sprays, bubble beds, a wave machine and a pirate shipwreck with water cannons and dripping masts complete the facility. The leisure pool covers an area of 693 metres 2 and has a water capacity of 285,000 litres.

The competition pool is a 25 metre, 8 lane short course pool, measuring 25m x 17m. Spectrum is the home of Guildford City Swimming Club who use the facility for their training and also galas. Seating around the pool area holds 500 spectators. The pool holds 595,000 litres of water.

Spectrum's teaching pool is 18 metres x 10 metres and holds 148,000 litres of water. The pool is predominantly used for lessons although public sessions and birthday parties are also held in the teaching pool.

The diving pool is 12 metres x 11 metres and 4 metres deep. It holds 511,000 litres of water. Boards are situated at 1 metre, 3 metres and 5 metres.

On average 5/6,000 visits occur every week to the pool complex. Because it is so busy, Spectrum Sport & Leisure staff have to be confident in the water and each member of staff undergoes a pool test and evaluation. Once a Sport & Leisure member of staff has been employed, they will be placed on a R.L.S.S. National Pool Lifeguard Qualification before they can lifeguard the pool. This means that there is a recognised standard for pool staff. Lifeguard training continues through their employment at Spectrum as does first aid and manual handling.

Arena

Spectrum's arena is a multi purpose facility which is 1,600 metres 2 . The spectator seating has a capacity of 1,500 and is used for various entertainment events. The arena is used mostly for sporting activities and can accommodate 10 badminton courts, two 5-a-side football pitches, two indoor tennis courts, two basketball courts and two volleyball courts.

Along with the sporting activities, Spectrum arena can also be transformed into an entertainment venue. Entertainers such as the Backstreet Boys, Don Williams and Frank Skinner have all performed to thousands of fans within the complex. Annual ice ballets are shown within the arena, with a temporary ice pad being laid. Performances of Sleeping Beauty, Peter Pan, Phantom Of The Opera and Barnum have all received critical acclaim and sell out audiences.

The arena has a corporate hospitality box overlooking the facility, which now gives customers the opportunity to view events in a more peaceful, relaxed environment.

Ice

Spectrum Ice houses an Olympic sized Ice Rink measuring 60metres x 30metres with seating for 2,000 spectators. There are 16 miles of pipes laid in the concrete under the ice. The ice itself is one and a half inches thick and is resurfaced every 4 hours while in use. There are 1,722 pairs of skates to hire ranging from a child's size 5 to an adults size 14.

Spectrum Ice users, as well as recreational skaters, include junior and ladies ice hockey players, speed skaters, ice dancers, figure skaters and of course ice instructors.

The ice arena is home to Spectrum's British National League ice hockey team, the Guildford Flames, who play and train here during the season, September - April every year. The Flames won the Grand Slam during the 2000/2001 season, winning the British National League, The Findus British National League playoffs and the Christmas Cup.

The ice arena can also be covered and used as a venue for events such as conferences, concerts and other entertainment.

More recent additions to the rink include replacement plexi-glass, a video wall and improved lighting and sound systems.

Health Suite

The Health and Fitness Suite offers the very latest computerised cardiovascular fitness equipment and traditional resistance weight training machines.

An extension was completed at the end of 2001 named the Energy Level. The extension converted an unused staff flat, into a fitness room with natural light, housing a further 20 machines.

Beauty Therapy is offered to customers as are, fitness assessments, cholesterol testing, nutritional analysis, stress counselling, sports injury treatment, and alternative therapies including reflexology and aromatherapy. Also on offer is a physiotherapy clinic and GP referral scheme.

The relaxation area includes steam room, spa bath, male & female saunas and 3 sunbeds.

The whole facility has a capacity of 120 people training at any one time. "Cardio Theatre" gives customers the opportunity to watch their favourite TV channel or listen to a popular radio station with their own headphones, choosing from sport, news, soap operas, cartoons etc.

Spinning is another addition to Spectrum's fitness programme; it is a cycling based exercise class providing an efficient and fun way to get into shape.

Bowling

Spectrum Bowl has 32 lanes of tenpin bowling incorporating the latest Quibica computerised scoring and automatic pin setting equipment.

Over half the lanes have "bumpers" which are great for young children as they prevent the ball from going in the gutter and means the player scores every time.

A wide range of customers frequent the Bowl from league and tournament players, Youth Bowling Club members and children having birthday parties, to companies holding corporate events. Spectrum also has the latest state of the art amusement and video machines, many of which are located in the Bowl.

The number of pins in constant use is 736, there are 362 balls available, the length of lane is 60 feet from the foul line to the centre of the headpin and there are 358 pairs of shoes available for hire.

Athletics Stadium

A superb 400m all-weather floodlit athletics track with 8 lanes, and a synthetic surface makes this facility ideal for a wide range of sporting events. It boasts the full range of field event equipment, terraced stand for 1,000 spectators and a central grass pitch which has been used for various activities, from hockey and baseball to lacrosse and soccer.

Memberships

As Guildford Spectrum is owned, funded and managed by Guildford Borough Council anyone can use the facilities on a “pay as you play” basis. The complex can be used as often or as little as each individual wants.

There are, however, many forms of membership within the complex, which provide customers with a convenient, hassle-free form of payment.

Fitness Direct, Fitness Direct +, Skating Direct, Aerobics Direct and Swim Direct are the main memberships, with customers paying a yearly or monthly sum by Direct Debit to use various facilities within the complex. Guildford Spectrum does not charge a joining fee for these memberships.

High-Five Bowling Club and Primetime (for over 50's) are clubs where customers pay an annual membership fee, and in return receive various discounts on their visits at specific times. Cosmic Kids (for under10's) enjoys the same benefits but without a membership fee.

Corporate membership is also available for companies with a minimum of 10 employees. Off-peak and peak memberships are offered, which are payable by Direct Debit.

Pictures of Guildford Spectrum

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Directions to Guildford Spectrum

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Located on the outskirts of Guildford on the north of Stoke Park , near to the A3, Junction 10 from the M25 Motorway.

Signposted from all major routes into Guildford, follow the brown & white tourist signs for 'Leisure Centre' A special Link bus runs to Spectrum from the University of Surrey, Railway Station and Town Centre.