Opened in January 2019, Ards Blair Mayne is a smart building. It offers residents and visitors to Newtownards a wide variety of sport, play and fitness choices. Facilities inside and out encourage swimming, fitness, kids play, sports development and a wide range of classes. Approximately 75,000 people a month are using this state of the art facility.
An exciting dimension to the complex is the focus on play. The Splash Pool, with spray cannons, water jets, a slide and cascades are complemented by Soft Play facilities for children to run, bounce, jump and scream - in complete safety. Trampolining is an option for children’s parties.
An adjacent outdoor playpark, sensory gardens, pump and cycle tracks all provide fun activity for young children to teenagers.
Juniors aged 11 to 15 are encouraged into the gym (having completed an induction). But Ards Blair Mayne is not just about youngsters; it’s an excellent complex for fitness classes and sports activities. Modern exercise classes focus on cardiovascular and strength training while a range of holistic classes provide flexibility and core strength training. Included in the class programme are Active Ageing exercise classes exclusively for those aged 60 or over. And the range of sports activity – often run by local clubs – is very wide: kayaking, martial arts, netball, pickleball (that combines elements of badminton, tennis, and table tennis), running, scuba diving, table tennis, triathlon, trampolining, yoga, football, gymnastics, hockey, archery and badminton.
Operating entirely digitally, energy monitoring and management systems are in place to control all inputs. A 32 inch display screen in the reception area provides instant information to customers of the facility’s sustainability outputs and performance. PIR lighting, motion sensors, a Combined Heat and Power system, waste management and recycling are all integral to the building and the way it operates.
Ards Blair Mayne Wellbeing and Leisure Complex has it all - whether training for a sports team or specific challenge, looking for advice to tackle weight for health reasons or simply enjoying exercising, for all ages. To visit and check out facilities and opening times, call 028 9181 2837 or visit the Ards Blair Mayne website.
The Green Tourism programme was funded by the Council’s Recycling Community Investment Fund - a scheme which is powered by the recycling efforts of local residents and businesses. Thanks to an increased amount of recycling by the local community, almost £15M has been saved in landfill costs since the programme’s inception. These savings have allowed the Council to create the RCIF which supports new and existing environmentally friendly initiatives.
