Will the Brentford Fountain Pools Ever Reopen?
Council and Lampton Leisure unable to give firm commitment on future
The centre has been marked for redevelopment
August 22, 2025
Concerns that the swimming pools at Brentford Fountain Leisure centre may never reopen are growing after another update failed to give a firm date for their return.
The facilities have been shut for a month for what was initially described as ‘essential maintenance’ but now both Hounslow Council and Lampton Leisure are unwilling to offer any assurances that they will definitely return.
The closure was initially expected to last until early August, but an update at that time promised more information this week. However, the bulletin from Lampton Leisure, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of the council which runs the pool on its behalf, offered no further details about the nature of the work or likely completion date in its update, only promising another update on 5 September.
In the meantime, the rest of the centre—including the gym, sports hall, and café—remains open, and swimming members have been given access to other Lampton Leisure pools nearby including New Chiswick Pool.
Hounslow Council has previously stated that Brentford Fountain Leisure Centre is “no longer fit for purpose” and requires significant investment or replacement to meet modern standards. A Cabinet report from October 2024 confirmed that the site, built in 1987, is under review for redevelopment, and a sum of £285,000 was allocated by the council to bring the facility up to minimum required standards last year but it is understood to be not guaranteed that funds would be forthcoming if reopening the pools required a major expense.
Many regular users are expressing concerns that if the pools were to close before the development plan for the site had even been decided, the area could go for years without any swimming facilities.
Gabriella Giles, Conservative Councillor for Chiswick Riverside, said, “We are disappointed by the lack of decision for the future Brentford Leisure Centre.
“At a site visit in December, it was apparent that substantial repairs were needed and that the council was reluctant to spend the amount needed to fully repair the leisure centre, and would much prefer to find a developer to take on the site and cost of developing a multi-purpose building which would retain facilities while building residential units above.
”It wasn't immediately apparent that there was a plan b, or where the money would come from as a result of capital expenditure out of the council budget.”
We asked the council and Lampton Leisure if they could categorically rule out a permanent closure.
In response a spokesperson for Hounslow Council said, “Works are ongoing to assess what remedial work is required, we will be able to provide an update in early September.
“The rest of Brentford Fountain Leisure Centre remains open as normal, including the gym, group exercise classes, sports hall and café.
“Residents are reminded that if they usually swim at Brentford, they are welcome to use any of our other Lampton Leisure pools during this time. All are within seven miles of Brentford and listed on Lampton Leisure’s website.”
No reply was received from Lampton Leisure.
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