Sports and leisure at York Barbican

Early artist's impression of York Barbican CentreYork Barbican Centre

Built in 1989 for £15M, York Barbican Centre was to revolutionise leisure in York providing a vast array of sports, leisure and entertainment facilities under one roof - well, maybe two roofs, as it joined the swimming pools which had stood on the same site for nine years previously.

What has York been deprived of?

York Barbican Centre, before its premature closure, was a publicly owned leisure facility which consisted of:-
• two swimming pools
• a diving pool

• two well equipped gyms

• a multi-use sports hall, used for:-
  · volleyball
  · 4 badminton courts
  · 5-a side football
  · basketball
  · short tennis
  · netball
  · judo and other martial sports

• soft play children's area

• large climbing wall erected with funding from the Sports Council

• a climbing tuition room

• dance studios which could be used for:-
  · pilates
  · dance tuition
  · yoga
  · aerobics

• an outdoor bowling green

• large reception and office area

• a café and bars

• a 1,500 seat auditorium - the largest concert hall in York.

A large car park and associated land also form part of the site and included in the various development plans is another large car and coach parking area situated adjacent to the main site on Kent Street.

The swimming facilities are about 25 years old and the sports hall and auditorium were built 16 years ago. All facilities were well loved by the people who used them. Many local sports clubs and schools used York Barbican Centre, as did many individuals who wished to keep fit.

York Barbican Centre auditoriumThe Barbican auditorium is York's largest concert hall at 1500 seats. Many citizens fear that the operators, Absolute Leisure intend to deprive us of live music by turning it into a casino in the future. The Barbican hosted many famous entertainers and musicians and was home to York's excellent Guildhall Orchestra.

The stage at York Barbican CentreCan you imagine bands such as Pulp, Suede, or The Levellers, or artists like Paul Weller or Joan Baez playing there again when the site is subsumed by 240 flats?

"We shall overcome!" Indeed.