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On Thursday 22/10/26, Byw’n Iach Bangor turns 60 years old. To celebrate, we’re looking back at it’s history!
The building first opened in 1966, replacing Bangor Baths (the open-air tidal baths off Siliwen Road) which closed in 1958 due to declining interest and increased water pollution in the Straits. The centre, which was then named the City of Bangor Swimming Pool, featured an indoor heated swimming pool funded by the council to provide safe, year-round swimming to the local people. The pool quickly became popular with local swimming clubs, families and casual swimmers, and soon later, the outdoor paddling pool was built.
In February 2015, the centre underwent a £850,000 modernisation project, led by Cyngor Gwynedd with grant support from Swim Wales. This development saw the addition of the 4 new diving boards, the bubble machine and the video replay system which are still a benefit to the local diving club more than 10 years later. A small fitness studio for spin classes, an extended fitness room overlooking the main pool, and indoor wattbikes replaced the first floor cafe and kitchen, providing brand new facilities for the public. The centre was renamed Bangor Aquatics and Healthy Lifestyles Centre.
In 2019, Byw’n Iach took management of the centre, and the centre became known as Byw’n Iach Bangor. We continued to offer public swimming as well as children’s and adult swimming and diving lessons, and still do to this day. Recent developments have seen the centre open a brand new, state of the art fitness room, featuring Technogym Biocircuit equipment, as well as a brand new fitness studio where a whole timetable of fitness classes are provided to the public.
Despite all developments over the years, our goal remains the same as in 1966: to provide safe, year-round space for the public to swim and exercise, and we thank our customers and current and past staff members for making this possible for 60 years! Take a look at the centre’s timetable here.