 The Carnival Hub is open and it's looking great!
There was lots of excitement as Wokingham Leisure Centre @ Carnival Hub officially opened its doors on Monday (25 July) and welcomed customers for the very first time.
A ribbon cutting ceremony took place at the new flagship leisure centre with Wokingham Borough Mayor Cllr Caroline Smith and many of those involved in the project over the years.
To celebrate the opening, we've brought together some of the top stories and information about the Hub in one place.
 A state-of-the-art leisure offer
If you haven't had a chance to look round the Carnival Hub yet there's lots to see and do.
You’ll find a 120 station fitness suite, fitness studios including a group cycling studio, a café and a dual-purpose hall for sports or 400 seat-cultural performances, along with a cafe in the reception space. There’s also a specialist gym for those with long-term health conditions.
The Hub's a great place to take to the water as there are two pools, including a large training pool with a moveable depth floor. There's a splash pad with lots of water jets and fountains for the kids to enjoy.
Check out the timetables on the Places Leisure website for more information on all the classes available.
If you're interested in seeing more look through our opening day pictures on Facebook or Twitter or check out this fantastic video by Places Leisure which takes you on a walk around the Hub.
Or pop down to chat with some of the staff about what's on offer during the leisure centres regular opening hours:
- Monday to Friday, 6am to 10.30pm
- Saturday and Sunday, 7am to 8pm
 A softer side to the Hub
Wokingham Leisure Centre @ Carnival Hub isn't just about swimming or keeping fit as the Hub is also the perfect place to take some time out to relax and unwind in the new Health Suite.
Designed to create a tranquil space, the Health Suite features a sauna, steam room. citrus infused steam room, a salt room and heated loungers.The Health Suite also has it's own dedicated changing rooms and lockers.
Open Monday to Friday from 6.30am to 10pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 7.30am to 8pm. Access to the Suite is free for Premium Plus Members, or costs £20 on a pay as you go basis.
 Great membership offers for regular users
All the facilities at Wokingham Leisure Centre @ Carnival Hub can be used on a pay as you go basis but, if you are planning on being a regular visitor make sure you check out some of Places Leisure’s great membership offers.
Places Leisure are also offering gym inductions for both members and non-members.To book your slot, head down to Wokingham Leisure Centre or call (0118) 977 0007 to book with a member of staff. If you sign up online, you will automatically be offered a gym induction at the checkout.
Sign up by Sunday and pay no joining fees
If you sign up for a 12-month direct debit premium membership by Sunday (31 July) then you will enjoy no joining fee, as well as free immediate access to all other Places Leisure centres in Wokingham Borough. Use the code 12MTHOPEN at checkout.
 SHINE at the Hub
Did you know we are now running some of our popular SHINE activities at the Carnival Hub?
These are group activities for residents aged 55 and over. SHINE is a great opportunity to get out, get fit and make new friends whilst enjoying classes developed just for you.
New sessions running at the Hub, include Latin fitness, body conditioning, low-intensity exercise, Zumba, circuits, yoga and Pilates, with more to be added to our timetable in August and September. You can view a timetable of all the SHINE classes, which run at venues across the borough, on the bookings page.
You can find out more about how to sign up to SHINE activities on our website. SHINE is free to join and classes cost £5.20 each on a pay as you go basis, or £43 for a pack of 10 session credits.
The SHINE programme is run by Wokingham Borough Council and is separate from Places Leisure. Membership of SHINE does not give access to the wider leisure facilities at the Carnival Hub. Any Places Leisure members wishing to attend SHINE classes will also need to sign up on our website and pay for any sessions they wish to attend.
 New library opens in September
And the Carnival Hub isn't just about leisure as it's also going to include a brand new home for Wokingham Library.
Work started this week to fit out the new library space which will offer all the favourite facilities the current Denmark Street Library does.
This includes dedicated areas for browsing books and resources, computers and study areas, and children’s reading area, along with an exhibition area and improved meeting rooms which can be combined into one to create a bigger space.
The new library is expected to open in mid-September this year as we've made a decision to keep the Denmark Street library open for the summer so families can continue to use the facility over the school holidays.
We've included some sneak peek artists impressions above but keep an eye out for updates in the coming weeks as work continues to create this fantastic new community space.
 Make your mark on new public art sculpture
You can make your mark on a new piece of public art for Wokingham, which will see your stories turned into a poem about those who live in the borough
The Arc will be part of the Carnival Hub site and has been commissioned and fundraised for by Arts4Wokingham, a charity aimed at advancing arts and culture in the borough.
Artist Nicola Anthony, who has created similar sculptures in Los Angeles, Dubai and Singapore, wants words and stories of the borough and its people. These will be turned into a poem which will be displayed on the sculpture – supply your ideas using the button below.
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Please take part in our short survey to help us make sure we tell you the right things in the right ways and, importantly, that we are listening to what you tell us.
What you might have missed
Our email newsletters help you keep up with the topics which matter to you in the borough – sign up for more using the button below. Here’s everything from the last week to give you an idea:
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