New operator takes plunge at City Baths
All ends swimmingly as new future beckons for city’s historic baths. Tony Henderson reports
A new operator has been found to safeguard the future of Newcastle’s listed City Baths and Turkish Baths.
The building, an Asset of Community Value, originally opened in 1928 and is one of only 11 remaining Victorian-style Turkish Baths still open in the UK.
Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL), the UK’s largest public service charitable social enterprise, has now formally taken control of the centre.
The historic building in the heart of the city centre had faced an uncertain future after Fusion Lifestyle Ltd announced on April 1 that it had gone into administration after a period of financial pressures.
The council pledged to work with Fusion Lifestyle Ltd’s administrators, S&W Partners LLP, to keep the building open while it found a new operator.
Newcastle City Council’s Cabinet member for culture and communities, Coun Rob Austin, said: “There has been a period of uncertainty for members of The City Baths and the Turkish Baths since Fusion went into administration.
“The council promised to do all that it could to protect the much-loved facility and I am delighted to announce that has now been achieved.
“GLL manage nearly 400 public services around the country such as pools, leisure centres, gyms and libraries. They already manage some of our existing facilities, so it makes sense to strengthen our partnership with them.
“It’s good news that the future of this listed building has been safeguarded, and members can look to the future with confidence and continue to enjoy great leisure services in the heart of the city.”
Tim Bestford, GLL head of service, said: “We are delighted to be taking on the management of this important and historic community asset. GLL is already rooted in the city, operating five local leisure facilities on behalf of the city council, while as a not-for-profit social enterprise our mission is to protect public services.
“We will be exploring ways to expand and improve the service offering.”
John Egan, of the Newcastle City Baths User Group, said: “We welcome the council’s decision to secure a new operator for this unique and much-loved facility. Members have been clear that they want to see the baths thrive and continue serving Newcastle for generations to come.
“We look forward to working constructively with GLL. We hope this marks the beginning of a new chapter focused on high standards, investment, accessibility, community engagement and a consistently excellent customer experience. We wish GLL every success and stand ready to support positive change wherever we can.”
The city council granted Fusion Lifestyle Ltd the lease for the buildings in 2016 when they were in poor condition and in need of major refurbishment, which the council said it could not afford to do itself.
Amid a residents’ campaign to save the City Baths from closure, Fusion Lifestyle Ltd, which had a successful track record of similar projects, came forward and was awarded the lease by the council.
They reopened in January 2020 after a £7.5m restoration project and went on to win the UK Pool and Spa Award in 2024.
Although the council is unlikely to recover the £6.06m Fusion Lifestyle Ltd owes it in full — because it is an unsecured creditor — the investment saved an important city centre building which has operated successfully for six years.
The council hopes it can still recover income from the future running of the centre under its concession with GLL, which operates under the brand Better.
As part of the agreement, staff working for Fusion Lifestyle Ltd at the baths will have their jobs transferred under TUPE arrangements to GLL. No redundancies are anticipated.