YEOVIL NEWS: Leisure complex will remain as Westlands

THE former Westlands Sports and Leisure Complex in Yeovil is to be known simply as Westlands when it reopens in 2017.

Following South Somerset District Council’s 30-year lease of the former Westlands Sports & Leisure Complex the new venue’s name, logo and first events have now been announced.

After significant consultation the complex is to keep the name Westlands - popular with numerous members of the public who put this forward as their choice.

After exploring different options SSDC came back to this due to the overwhelming public desire to retain the name. The new venue’s logo has subsequently been inspired by the former Agusta Westland logo as well as being tailored to complement The Octagon Theatre’s current logo. The Westlands site will comprise of the Westlands Entertainment Venue and Westlands Sports and Fitness Centre.

The council’s leisure and culture spokesman, Cllr Sylvia Seal, said: “We are delighted to finally reveal the name and branding such as the logo and website to the public and potential users/visitors of the Westlands Entertainment Venue and Sports and Fitness Centre.

“Many people across South Somerset and beyond recognise the Westland name, so it was decided to retain what people know and love – Westlands.”

PHOTO - RIGHT: Cllr Sylvia Seal.

Work on site continues to proceed well, on budget and on schedule for opening the new Sports & Fitness Centre on January 3, 2017, and the entertainment venue in late March 2017.

The new Sports & Fitness Centre will offer an extensive programme of classes as well as allowing clubs and groups to return to the site in order to use their facilities.

The refurbished Entertainment Complex will see the main ballroom transformed with a retractable seating bank offering improved viewing alongside flat floor seating and a capacity of 850 for ‘theatre seated’ events.

With standing capacity for over 1,000 and banqueting capacity for 350 this flexible space will enable a host of new events. The bar area will be given a new look, opening up spaces to create a more welcoming feel and meeting rooms will have a variety of sizes to suit small business meetings and training days to large scale conferences.

The first events to take place at the Entertainment Complex include screenings from The Royal Opera House of The Sleeping Beauty ballet and Madame Butterfly opera, and an encore screening of The Importance of Being Earnest starring David Suchet.

CBeebies mega-star Justin Fletcher (a.k.a. Mr Tumble) appears in April and German comedian - Henning Wehn, star of QI, Live At The Apollo and Would I Lie To You, is confirmed for May 2017.

More events are due to follow whilst the venue team are busy developing a live music programme which will be announced at a later date. The diary is open for bookings and promoters and agents are being contacted.

Adam Burgan, arts and entertainment manager, said: “We are excited to share the first few events for the entertainment venue.

“The programme is shaping up nicely and we are pleased now the opening dates have firmed up we are actively taking bookings for regular hirers and working with promoters to present a vibrant entertainment programme.

“There has been a lot of interest in the live music programme and this is something we will be releasing details of closer to the opening. With the launch of the new website it is fantastic to be sharing details of what is to come and feel another step closer to reopening the complex for the town to enjoy.”

Westlands Entertainment Venue is intended to be the new place to meet, grow your business and be entertained with its newly refurbished and developed sporting facilities, events programme, catering and service.

PHOTO - ABOVE: Adam Burgan.

Tags:
News.