Reading’s Rivermead Leisure Centre has been judged one of the best leisure facilities in the UK after receiving an Outstanding rating from Sport England’s quality assessment scheme.
The centre, which opened in 2023, is one of only seven facilities nationwide to achieve the highest possible rating from Quest, Sport England’s Continuous Improvement Tool for leisure services.
Rivermead was developed by Reading Borough Council as part of a £40m investment in leisure facilities across the town. The Quest assessment followed a mystery visit and a two-day inspection examining areas including customer experience, environmental management, health and safety compliance, inclusivity, accessibility and lifeguarding standards.
Inspectors awarded the centre an Excellent rating on both days of assessment, resulting in the overall Outstanding accolade.
Operated under the Better brand by not-for-profit social enterprise GLL, Rivermead Leisure Centre includes an eight-lane competition swimming pool, a diving and teaching pool, a 120-station gym, exercise studios, a six-court sports hall, children’s soft play areas, party rooms, a café and a full-size all-weather pitch.
Craig Woodward, GLL partnership manager for Reading, said the award reflected the work of staff at the centre. “To achieve a hugely prestigious Quest Outstanding assessment is a fantastic tribute to the hard work of the Rivermead team,” he said. “They are committed to exceptionally high standards in every aspect of service delivery.”
Quest managing director Caroline Constantine said the process was demanding but valuable for local facilities. “By achieving an overall accolade of Outstanding, Rivermead Leisure Centre has shown its commitment to providing quality facilities and service to its customers,” she said.
Reading Borough Council’s lead councillor for leisure and culture, Adele Barnett-Ward, said the award endorsed the council’s investment. “This confirms what residents have been telling us about Reading’s flagship leisure centre,” she said.
She added that the project aimed to improve health and wellbeing and ensure facilities were accessible to all. “High-quality leisure facilities play a vital role in supporting healthier, happier communities, and Rivermead’s Outstanding rating shows we are delivering on that commitment.”
