Troubled leisure village up for sale for £6m

A leisure centre that almost closed for good last year has been put up for sale.

The price tag for Kettering Leisure Village (KLV) in Northamptonshire, which includes a theatre and conference facilities, is £6m.

KLV was on the brink of shutting in 2023 but a firm that sublet the site took over day-to-day operations to keep it open.

Christie and Co, who are marketing the venue, said it was a "unique property in the UK".

KLV was constructed in the early 1990s and covers a site of about 3.8 hectares (9.4 acres).

It includes the 576-seat Lighthouse Theatre, a sports area, a children's soft play area, a health club and conference facilities.

Its future was put in doubt when operator Compass announced it would be pulling out because the centre had been running at a loss for a number of years and was no longer viable.

Following a campaign, which included a 15,000-signature petition, Compass stayed on for long enough to allow Phoenix Leisure to take over the operation of KLV.

The site is leased by North Northamptonshire Council, who pay a small rent to BQ Farms, which is part of the Boughton House-based Buccleuch Estate near Kettering.

As first reported by the Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph, Christie and Co described KLV as a diverse property and the home of Volleyball England, which had "undergone further development with a roll call of attractions".

Head of brokerage Jeremy Jones said: "Kettering Leisure Village is a unique property in the UK.

"There are a whole range of asset management opportunities to capitalise on to grow the profits and income."

The firm has invited offers in the region of £6m for the long lease.

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