Barry Leisure Centre New Strength Gym

Exciting improvements coming to your centre!

In conjunction with the Vale of Glamorgan Council and the UK Government’s shared prosperity fund, we are excited to announce the launch of our brand new ‘Strength Gym’. This significant upgrade will see the relocation of our Hammer Strength area to a much larger, 600m2 floor space, including fully accessible facilities, functional training zone, multi-rig, improved resistance equipment and stretch area. We are investing almost £500,000 in this state-of-the-art new exercise space, so what is coming:

• 18 refurbished existing Hammer Strength machines with the addition of 5 new machines
• Additional Olympic benches, squat racks and deadlift platforms
• Significantly increased range of cable resistance equipment from the “Signature” range
• Powermill climbers with multiple workout options
• Brand new functional training zone with dual 15m sledge tracks
• Introduction of gym floor group fitness using equipment such as battle ropes, plyo boxes, TRX, rowers, SkiErg & AirBike
• Large stretch area with dedicated matting

What are the proposed dates of the project?

Our existing Hammerstrength Gym Suite will be closed on Thursday 8 May 2025. This will allow our contractors to extract a number of machines which will be taken away for full refurbishment. Our members will be able to use the main gym suite on this date until the Hammerstrength Gym reopens on Friday 9 May. Please note, there will be limited equipment available until the new Strength Gym opens mid-June. 

We have already started the conversion work of a previous space to the side of Barry Leisure Centre.  We’ve knocked through on the 1st floor between the squash courts and the sports hall in readiness for installing an entry point to the new facilities.  

The new equipment is already on order with Life Fitness and Jordan Fitness.

What range of equipment will be available in the new gym area?

• Large range of Iso-Lateral equipment to target the chest, back, shoulders and legs
• 2 x 15m LED lit sledge tracks
• Multi-rig with squat, targetball and landmine attachments
• Powermill climbers
• SkiErg, AirBike & rowing Zone
• Brand new glute drive and hip thrust machines
• Improved range of ‘Signature’ cable and resistance machines
• Dumbbells from 2.5kg - 65kg
• Olympic lifting platforms, full & half squat racks
• Enhanced group fitness classes coming to the programme utilising ropes, sleds, multi-rig, TRX training, SkiErg, rowers, farmers walk & more!

What facilities will be affected?

The existing Hammer Strength equipment is being sent away for refurbishment, which will impact the existing Hammer Strength gym from early May until we re-open. The free weights area in this area will remain in place and be available for customers as normal, but the Hammer Strength plate loaded machines will be removed, and therefore, equipment will be limited for a short period.

We’re expecting this minor disruption to be for approximately 4 weeks. During this time, we will appreciate your patience and understanding before we can open the new facility in all its glory!

Our main, upper-level gym suite will remain open and unaffected by the refurbishment. However, due to the Hammer Strength area being refurbished, our customers may experience busier periods in our main gym during peak times.

All other areas of the centre will also be unaffected, including group exercise classes and activities in the swimming pool.  

What will happen with memberships during this time?

The main gym suite will not be affected, and fitness memberships will run as usual with the group exercise classes still scheduled to operate and the free weights area available throughout.

All fitness members will continue to have the option to utilise other facilities across the Vale of Glamorgan, including Penarth, Llantwit & Cowbridge Leisure Centres.

What will happen to the old Hammer Strength Area?

As our membership base grows, there is increasing demand for Group Exercise Classes; in light of this, we will repurpose the area into a high-impact fitness studio. We aim to redecorate and upgrade the area to give our members the best possible experience. 

Repurposing this area will allow for increased capacity on some of our most popular classes, reduce waitlists, provide a more private space and allow our instructors to deliver quality classes. Our smaller capacity sports hall classes will also move into the new studio, which will free up courts to allow additional bookings to take place, such as Pickleball, Badminton and Walking Netball, which are all included in your membership.

Will the new gym area be included in my existing membership, and how will I access it once open?

This significant investment in the new ‘Strength Gym’ is available to all our fitness members over the age of sixteen and will provide enhanced facilities as well as an improved Group Exercise Class offering. Non-members will also be able to access this space on a pay-and-play basis.  Your Membership prices will remain the same!

Can I get inducted on the new equipment?

Yes absolutely! If you would like a physical induction on the new equipment, you can contact the centre here to request this or book in via the App. Alternatively, new equipment will have QR codes which can be scanned to provide you with a step-by-step video tutorial.

How will I know what’s going on?

We will be sending emails to our members as well as updating our social media channels. We will also have communication on display in the centre, updating you with the latest news leading up to and throughout the works. 

If you have any further questions, please ask our reception team.