Stratford Leisure Centre is hosting a Community Open Day on Saturday, 5 September (8am-6.30pm), packed with free activities to celebrate its £175,000 gym refurbishment.

Run by award-winning operator Everyone Active in partnership with Stratford-on-Avon District Council, the leisure centre will welcome Team GB sprinter and TV personality Harry Aikines-Aryeetey to mark the occasion.

Residents can enjoy a host of free activities that will take place on the day including group exercise classes, personal training tasters and Hyrox, badminton, pickleball and table tennis sessions. Soft play, Active Antz and Ninja Tag sessions will also be available for youngsters, alongside a roller disco and family fun swimming.

Gym challenges with Harry Aikines-Aryeetey will be on offer for families and residents. The popular athlete will be part of the formal ribbon-cutting ceremony and will be on hand for autographs and selfies during the day.

Visitors can also try out free EGYM assessments and tasters within the leisure centre's eight-piece Smart Strength facility. The fitness hub provides AI-powered, on-screen exercise guidance to help remove barriers to strength training, helping users safely and effectively reach their fitness goals.

Activities at the event are free, pending a £1 charity donation when booking with Everyone Active's charity partner, The Ben Kinsella Trust.

The leisure centre's upgrades include a state-of-the-art gym refurbishment featuring brand-new Life Fitness equipment, offering members an improved environment to stay active and reach their fitness goals.

The 100-station gym includes kit for functional training, resistance and cardio - from treadmills, cross-trainers, watt bikes, SkiErg machines, multi-press and pulldown machines to new free weights.

Members can make use of plate loaded equipment such as glute drive kit, in addition to an Olympic incline bench strength training station with weight storage.

The works follow a major investment in the leisure centre's revamped sauna and steam room and health suite earlier this year, a makeover of its cycle studio and the introduction of its soft play facility which opened in May.

Richard Bell, area contract manager for Everyone Active, said: "We're excited to be hosting this fantastic Community Open Day full of activities for our local community. Harry's positive energy and genuine passion for sport is sure to inspire everyone on the day and put our new and inclusive state-of-the-art facilities to the test.

"We're thoroughly looking forward to celebrating with residents on the day and encourage people to book activities as soon as possible to secure their place. It's a brilliant opportunity to come along and try out the facilities first-hand - there really is something for everyone."

Councillor Lorraine Grocott, Portfolio Holder for Environmental and Neighbourhood Services at Stratford-on-Avon District Council, said: "We are delighted to support this Community Open Day at Stratford Leisure Centre and to celebrate the significant investment that has been made to enhance the facilities available to our residents. These improvements will help more people of all ages and abilities to enjoy being active in a welcoming, modern environment.

"The Community Open Day is a fantastic opportunity for local people to explore everything the leisure centre has to offer, try new activities and be inspired by Harry Aikines-Aryeetey's visit and I hope many will come along on the day."

All activities are bookable via the Everyone Active app. For more information about the day, visit: Stratford Leisure Centre Open Day - Everyone Active