Oasis tour 'fuels interest' in Swindon leisure centre

The Oasis leisure centre is well-known in the area, with a distinctive dome, but has been out of action since 2020

The reunion of rock band Oasis has driven a big increase in attention on Swindon’s Oasis leisure centre, according to campaigners.

There is a long-held rumour that Noel Gallagher was inspired to name his band over the centre, which closed in 2020, when working there as a roadie for the Inspiral Carpets in the 1990s.

Campaigners say the interest about getting tickets for Oasis' 2025 reunion tour should mean an extra push in getting the centre re-opened.

Save Oasis has written to the leaseholders of the site saying the tour news is a "positive".

The leisure centre attracted visitors from beyond Swindon for its slides, but also held concerts

'Unprecedented interest'

The Save Oasis Swindon Campaign has said it wants to see the centre reopened with a sports hall as well - currently plans omit a hall or any facility which could allow concerts.

The team has written to Damien Siviter, the managing director of the leaseholders of the Oasis, Seven Capital, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).

In the email, the group said the rock band reunion "unlocks a whole new chapter for the Save Oasis Swindon Campaign".

The campaigners say fully reopening the centre at the same time as the Oasis tourwould be a great opportunity for publicity.

“Anyone who dismisses the band’s connection has underestimated its significance and risks being perceived as out of touch,” the campaigners added.

Swindon Borough Council says it has sent the group's petition for a hall to be part of the reopening plans to Seven Capital.

The dome has now been listed, so it cannot be demolished

In response, Seven Capital said it is working closely with planners and has started an Oasis website to provide the public with updates, and there will also be a public consultation.

The group said there will be a scheme to discuss soon, but that it is a "complex" situation, especially as there has been a bid to make Oasis a listed building.

Seven Capital was awarded a 99-year lease on the site about 10 years ago, so the company is the effective owner, even though Swindon Borough Council owns the land.

It was operated by specialist leisure company Better, but it said it was impossible to make enough of a profit in 2020 and withdrew from running the centre.