Major boost for local sport as Bathgate Gymnastics Arena set to open

A brand-new dedicated home for gymnastics in West Lothian will open this June, as Xcite (West Lothian Leisure) prepares to launch a new Gymnastics Arena in Bathgate following a 170% surge in gymnastics participation in recent years.

A £330,000 investment will transform the former indoor bowling hall space at Xcite Bathgate into a purpose-built gymnastics facility, helping meet the rapidly growing demand for the sport across West Lothian and creating new opportunities for children, young people and families to get active.

Xcite Bathgate has driven more than half the growth in gymnastics participation at Xcite venues since 2021, with many of the current sessions running close to full capacity and waiting lists in place. The new arena will significantly expand capacity, allowing more people to take part while supporting progression from beginner sessions through to club and competitive levels.

Designed as a modern, flexible gymnastics environment, the arena will feature specialist equipment, dedicated learning zones and dual activity areas that allow multiple programmes to run simultaneously. Xcite will host a wide range of activities in the space, including early years classes, recreational gymnastics, club training, adult sessions and birthday parties.

The project will also create new employment and training opportunities, including a dedicated Gymnastics Development Officer role and up to 16 new coaching positions. Xcite’s ‘Become a Coach’ programme will also provide fully funded opportunities for local people to train as gymnastics coaches, helping build a sustainable workforce while opening new career pathways in sport.

The facility will also support schools and community groups, offering structured opportunities for physical activity and helping young people build confidence, strength and coordination through movement-based sport.

Participation in gymnastics has been particularly strong among young people and girls, and the new facility aims to ensure more local children can access the sport while providing a clear development pathway for those wishing to progress further.

Ben Lamb, Chief Executive Officer of Xcite, said: “The new Bathgate Gymnastics Arena is a really exciting development for the community and for gymnastics in West Lothian. Demand for our gymnastics programmes has grown rapidly in recent years, and this dedicated facility will allow us to welcome many more participants, while providing a high-quality environment for learning, development and progression. We are grateful to West Lothian Council for their support, which has made this project possible.”

Executive Councillor for Economy, Community Empowerment and Wealth Building, Susan Manion, said: “We are delighted to be able to enable West Lothian Leisure in creating this fantastic new facility that will benefit the local community for generations to come. There is clearly a huge increase in demand for gymnastics and this facility will allow more young people, adults and families to participate in the sport.”

Further details of the programmes at Bathgate Gymnastics Arena and how to register for classes will be announced ahead of the arena’s opening in May on Xcite’s website: www.westlothianleisure.com