A GREAT DAY FOR THE FORUM – AND THE WRIGHT FAMILY
WHEN Chris Wright decided Friday would be a good day to take his family for their first visit to Billingham’s Forum leisure complex, he was simply looking forward to good session skating on the ice.
But 47-year-old Chris’s visit was anything but ordinary – as he became the 250,000th person to visit the Forum since it reopened in June following a £18.5 million refurbishment.
The investment transformed the 1960s centre into an award-winning, state-of-the-art leisure and theatre facility for future generations to enjoy. Facilities include a full-size ice rink, swimming pools and changing facilities, expanded gym with 70 health and fitness stations, dance studio, bowls court, sports hall, squash courts, a children's play barn, function room and modern reception, spectator and catering areas.
The Forum Theatre also benefited from structural improvements and enhanced entrance and hospitality areas. It has seen record bookings and advance sales – particularly for its pantomime ‘Cinderella’ – with more than 33,000 tickets sold for various productions since the theatre opened its season in late August.
Forum Manager Roy Broadbent, of Tees Active who operate the Forum leisure complex for Stockton Council, said: “The new-look Forum has proved an instant hit and we are delighted to have reached the landmark of a quarter of a million visitors so quickly. This is much sooner than we expected and is nearly 65,000 more than the figures for the same months before the centre closed.
“On average, of more than 2,000 visitors are coming through our doors every day, which is around 500 more than we had back in 2008. It’s a real success story which is great for Billingham and great for the Tees Valley and beyond.
Roy presented Chris together with his wife Lynn, 45, and children April, 14, and Andrew, 9, with a special hamper containing tickets for the Forum Theatre’s panto, meal vouchers for OJs Café, passes for the gym, skating, swimming, exercise classes and play barn sessions as well as a host of Tees Active clothing and equipment.
Chris Wright, an ice skater for 24 years, said: “What a surprise and thanks for the hamper! This was our first visit to the Forum and we certainly won’t forget it. It looks great and I hope to come back every week – especially as my children have just started to skate.”
Councillor Ken Dixon, Stockton Council’s Cabinet Member for Arts, Leisure and Culture, said: “There’s no doubt the Forum has proved a huge hit since it reopened. We now have a fantastic facility which caters for 21st century needs and there’s no doubt the investment by the Council and Tees Active is providing a real boost to people’s health and it’s great to see so many people of all ages enjoying themselves so much by taking part in physical activities.
“Not only that, the complex has brought 250,000 people into Billingham town centre, which is providing a huge boost to the businesses here.”