Troubled leisure village up for sale for £6m

Kettering Leisure Village was built in the early 1990s

A leisure centre that almost closed for good last year has been put up for sale.

The price tag for Kettering Leisure Village (KLV) in Northamptonshire, which includes a theatre and conference facilities, is £6m.

KLV was on the brink of shutting in 2023 but a firm that sublet the site took over day-to-day operations to keep it open.

Christie and Co, who are marketing the venue, said it was a "unique property in the UK".

A huge campaign and a 15,000-signature petition helped ensure KLV stayed open

KLV was constructed in the early 1990s and covers a site of about 3.8 hectares (9.4 acres).

It includes the 576-seat Lighthouse Theatre, a sports area, a children's soft play area, a health club and conference facilities.

Its future was put in doubt when operator Compass announced it would be pulling out because the centre had been running at a loss for a number of years and was no longer viable.

Following a campaign, which included a 15,000-signature petition, Compass stayed on for long enough to allow Phoenix Leisure to take over the operation of KLV.

The site includes the Lighthouse Theatre, which has 576 seats

The site is leased by North Northamptonshire Council, who pay a small rent to BQ Farms, which is part of the Boughton House-based Buccleuch Estate near Kettering.

As first reported by the Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph, Christie and Co described KLV as a diverse property and the home of Volleyball England, which had "undergone further development with a roll call of attractions".

Head of brokerage Jeremy Jones said: "Kettering Leisure Village is a unique property in the UK.

"There are a whole range of asset management opportunities to capitalise on to grow the profits and income."

The firm has invited offers in the region of £6m for the long lease.