Leith Victoria Swim Centre – The NEN

Bake Off at Leith Victoria 125th birthday celebrations

Customers at Leith Victoria Swim Centre celebrated the Victorian pool’s 125-year anniversary on Friday, 28^th June, with a Bake-Off, which raised over £375 much-needed funds for Edinburgh Leisure’s Active Communities programme.

Local businesses including Hobz Bakery, Krema Bakehouse, The Babyfaced Baker and The Pastry Section, staff and customers all embraced their inner Mary Berry to create some showstoppers.

They were judged by Edinburgh Leisure’s previous Chief Executive, June Peebles, who retired in March 2024 after 38 years’ service with Edinburgh Leisure, along with Jen Holland, their new CEO, and one of Leith Victoria’s regular customers Christine Findlay, 71 years, who attends 19 classes a week at the Leith Viccies.

The baking competition was won by Kerry Teakle, Edinburgh Leisure’s PR Officer with her tried and tested Almond, Orange and Whisky cake.

The Bake-Off judging took place following a busy Aqua and yoga class that took place earlier in the building, when participants often congregate for a coffee and a blether after.

Brought up in the Colonies in Lochend Road, Christine Findlay, 71 Years, and one of the Bake-Off judges, has been using the centre since her childhood and continues to use Leith Victoria today.

Christine said: “I’ve been using the centre for years. Many people came for the hot baths, but we were lucky as we had a bath in our house, so didn’t need to use those facilities.

Christine, who still works as a carer attends 19 classes, six days a week at Leith Victoria. She used to swim seven days a week but now only swims on Fridays.

Christine explains why people keep coming back: “Viccies is a community. This is my second home, and everyone here is like your second family. I’ve made great friends and even go on holiday with people I’ve met here.

“I’ve been coming since my childhood and this continued when I had my family and I still come with my grandchildren today. Without this place, I don’t know what I’d do. We support each other through the good times and the bad.”

Louise Bathgate, Manager at Leith Victoria explained: “At 125 years old, Leith Victoria is rich in history, as well as holding a special place in so many people’s hearts locally with generations of families having learnt to swim here.

“The Bake-Off was a good excuse to have a celebration in honour of Viccies’ 125^th birthday and to raise much-needed funds for Edinburgh Leisure’s Active Communities programmes, which rely on external funding to make it happen.

“The funds raised by this event, along with two other events that have been held at Craiglockhart Tennis Centre and Meadowbank Sports Centre in the last couple of months, have raised over £750 to support disadvantaged people in our communities to improve their health and wellbeing.”

Edinburgh Leisure’s Active Communities supports 12,500 people annually who face the greatest barriers to get active – people affected by health conditions, inequalities, and poverty.

As a venue, Leith Victoria Swim Centre holds 23 Active Community classes each week and is one of Edinburgh Leisure’s busiest venues supporting hundreds of people in the local community.

www.edinburghleisure.co.uk

Leith Victoria Swim Centre is calling out for keen bakers to help them celebrate turning 125 years

One of Edinburgh Leisure’s five Victorian pools, Leith Victoria Swim Centre, will be celebrating 125-years of ‘serving’ the city of Edinburgh and is calling on any keen bakers to join in the festivities.

The venue will be holding a Bake-Off event to celebrate the occasion on Friday, 28^th June and is asking local businesses, staff and customers to embrace their inner Mary Berry to create some delicious cakes and tray bakes to raise funds for their Active Communities programmes.

Edinburgh Leisure’s Active Communities supports 12,500 people annually who face the greatest barriers to get active – people affected by health conditions, inequalities, and poverty. As a venue, they hold 23 Active Community classes each week, and Leith Victoria is one of Edinburgh Leisure’s busiest venues supporting hundreds of people in the local community.

The Bake-Off judging will take place at 11.20 – 11.30am following a busy Aqua and yoga class that takes place earlier in the building, when participants often congregate for a coffee and a blether after. Prizes will be awarded to the best bakes.

June Peebles, Edinburgh Leisure’s previous Chief Executive, who retired in March 2024 after 38 years’ service with Edinburgh Leisure, will be Chief Judge, along with Jen Holland, their new CEO and one of Leith Victoria’s regular customers Christine, 71 years, who attends 19 classes a week at the Leith Viccies, as it is affectionately known locally.

The original Victoria Leith Baths were opened in 1899 by Provost John Bennet. The original plaque is still on display at Leith Victoria Swim Centre. A plaque is also still on display on the exterior of the building which says, ‘Leith School Board, Swimming Baths, 1896’ and there is still the old red and white ‘Baths’ sign on the exterior of the building.

Leith Swimming Baths (now restored) linked to the ‘Public Baths’ (i.e. rows of enamel baths) and Laundry (both now demolished to create the Victoria Swim Centre). The baths were in use until the late 1970s, due to the high number of Leith dwellings lacking bathrooms up to that time. In the good old days, men got changed on one side of the pool, and ladies on the other. Obviously that no longer happens but the baths do have individual changing cubicles around the outside of the pool.

Louise Bathgate, Manager at Leith Victoria explained: “At 125 years old, Leith Viccies is rich in history, and we also know it holds a special place in so many people’s hearts locally, with customers of a certain vintage telling us how they learnt to swim here many years ago and have carried the tradition on with their children and grandchildren learning to swim here too.

“So, if there are any keen bakers locally for whom Leith Viccies holds a special place in their memory bank and would like to get involved, please get in touch. It’s all a bit of fun but will hopefully raise much needed funds for Edinburgh Leisure’s Active Communities programme, which supports so many different groups of people.”

If there are any keen bakers who would like to contribute a traybake, biscuits, cookies or cake for the event, the team at Leith Victoria would love to have your support. Please get in touch with:

susanmcintosh@edinburghleisure.co.uk or juliaadams@edinburghleisure.co.uk .

Make A Splash! Edinburgh Leisure offers Family Swim

As leisure venues start to adapt to the new norm, Edinburgh Leisure has introduced new Family Swim sessions at their five pools that are open, in a bid to offer activities for all ages and stages.

The Family Swim sessions will be available to book at Ainslie Park Leisure Centre, Drumbrae Leisure Centre, The Royal Commonwealth Pool, Gracemount Leisure Centre and Leith Victoria Swim Centre.

To enable customers to safely enjoy the benefits of family swimming, the pool will be sectioned off into ‘pods’, with each family having their own private area. Each pod will cost from £9.60 – £12, depending on type of membership held.

Members can book eight days in advance or seven days for non-members, with sessions starting from Saturday, 17 October 2020. Booking is now live to members and non-members can book from 9pm tonight (Friday, 9^th October).

Customers will be able to book a 40-minute session with a maximum of five people, from the same household bubble. However, customers will need to stick to the existing adult: child ratios*.

This will allow flexibility for how customers use the space – e.g. children from 9-12 years who do not need to socially distance, can book to attend with their friends if they wish. During any one sessions, there will be between three to eight pods to book.

Angela McCowan, Swim Development Officer at Edinburgh Leisure said: “We are delighted to be welcoming families back to our pools. We know how popular previous family swim sessions have been so opening up our pools to families in time for the October holidays, will mean that more people, of all ages and stages, can continue to get active with Edinburgh Leisure.

”Things may be a little different than before but we have everything in place to keep families safe and most importantly, enjoy making a splash with us.”

Following guidance from Scottish Swimming and from Edinburgh Leisure’s Health and Compliance Manager, Edinburgh Leisure has introduced the following guidelines to keep everyone safe:

All Family Swim Sessions must be pre-booked online or via the Edinburgh Leisure app. To book a session, an Edinburgh Leisure account is required. (This will be in place if a person is an Edinburgh Leisure customer of hold a discount or loyalty card). For customers who do not have an account, one can easily be created by visiting the Edinburgh Leisure website.
Customers are encouraged to arrive ‘beach-ready’, wearing their swimwear underneath their clothes to minimise time spent in changing areas. Lockers will be available for customer use but customers should bring their own token. (These are also available to buy at reception with cashless payment.)
Customers will be asked to follow the COVID-19 guidance, and maintain physical distancing, sanitising hands before and after each session, and following any signage guidance around the venue. Masks are mandatory when moving around public places, unless exempt due to age or health conditions.
Customers are asked to arrive only 5 minutes before their swim time. Any earlier, they will be asked to wait outside the venue, physically distanced in their groups.
No toys or equipment will be provided or loaned by Edinburgh Leisure. However, customers will be allowed to bring their own toys with them to the session, including floats, sinkers, armbands – but they must be washed before entering the pool. Large inflatables are not allowed. There will also be items available to purchase, using cashless payment only.
Once a family session has finished, customers will be asked to exit the pool safely and ensure they maintain distancing from other family groups. Although showers will be available to rinse off after the session, the use of soaps, shampoos and conditioners is discouraged. This is to maintain physical distancing. Hairdryers and costumer drying will not be available.
Customers or any family group/household displaying symptoms of COVID-19 are asked not to book or to cancel any pre-booked sessions.

For more information: https://www.edinburghleisure.co.uk/activities/swim/types-of-swimming

The wait is over: Viccie Baths reopens

Try before you buy – 7 Days for £7

The long-awaited refurbishment of Edinburgh Leisure’s beloved 120-year-old Leith Victoria Swim Centre is over and its refurbished pool reopened to the public yesterday, with some eager customers in the pool at 6am!

While many locals will be familiar with the pool facilities, Edinburgh Leisure are giving locals and potential new members, the opportunity to try before they buy, with a ‘7 Days for £7 promotion, which will run Monday, 2 March until Sunday, 8 March 2020. This pass is only available online and will be valid for 7 days starting from the day of registration. Terms and conditions apply.

Located just off Great Junction Street in Leith, ‘Viccies’ has retained its 19th century charm but added a modern twist to provide everything needed for an active lifestyle, including a 25 yard Victorian pool, a large modern gym, two fitness studios and dedicated cycle studio.

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Leith Victoria pool to close for six months

Iconic Victorian swimming pool, Leith Victoria Swim Centre, is being refurbished from Monday 12 August and will be out of use until February next year.

Due to the unique layout of the centre, it will be a phased refurbishment, starting with the closure of the pool and studio 2, with these areas reopening in February 2020. Continue reading Leith Victoria pool to close for six months

Join the ‘fight’ against cancer at Leith Victoria

Edinburgh Leisure’s Leith Victoria Swim Centre is holding their first charity ‘Combatathon’ next Saturday (10 September) from 1.30pm-3.30pm to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support. Continue reading Join the ‘fight’ against cancer at Leith Victoria

Try table tennis at Leith Victoria

Been inspired by table tennis at this year’s Rio Olympics and want to have a go? Now you can at Edinburgh Leisure’s Leith Victoria Swim Centre.

The session will be held at the following times of the week in studio 2:

Day	Time
Monday	09:00 – 13:00
Wednesday	12.00 – 17:00
Friday	14.30 -17.00
Saturday	12:00 – 17:00
Sunday	13:00 – 19.00

Nicola Duffy, General Manager at Edinburgh Leisure’s Leith Victoria Swim Centre said: “Table tennis is a great way to exercise the body and mind, whilst developing hand co-ordination. A game of table tennis can be surprisingly intense and can really get the heart pumping. It also improves cardiovascular fitness and endurance levels.

“Table tennis is one of the most accessible sports around – it can be played at any level from the Olympics to an impromptu game in your dining room with a line of old videos as a net or indeed at Leith Victoria. We’ve got the equipment and bats and balls. You just need to turn up.”

Table tennis helped end the Cold War. In 1971, a group of US players became the first Americans to visit China since it had become a Communist state in 1949. The trip, which spawned the phrase “ping-pong diplomacy” is often credited with reviving diplomatic relations between the countries.

Booking is recommended for each 60 minute session. Edinburgh Leisure is offering 50% off prices quoted below from 1 September – 1 December.

	Cost
Standard	£8.10
Discount Card / Members	£6.05
65+ & Concession Discount Card	£4.90
Junior & Disability Discount Card	£4.10
Young Scot (during timeframe)	£2.00

To book in for the event contact: Edinburgh Leisure’s Leith Victoria Swim Centre on 0131 555 4728 or visit the reception at Leith.

For further information, visit: www.edinburghleisure.co.uk