Sir Hugh Robertson, chairman of the British Olympic Association and a deputy lieutenant of Kent, attended Dover’s new £26m district leisure centre on 4 March 2019 to formally unveil a plaque marking the opening of the centre in late February.

Designed by GT3 Architects and built by BAM Construction, the leisure centre will be operated by Places Leisure on a 12-year management contract.

The new centre "raises the bar for leisure facilities" in Kent, according to Councillor Keith Morris, leader of Dover District Council, who added that Sport England had been "instrumental" in helping deliver the centre, with guidance and £1.5m in funding.

Facilities at Dover District Leisure Centre include the county’s first publicly accessible Swim England-certified eight-lane, county standard short course championship swimming pool. The 25m pool has starting platforms, automatic timing touchpads, electronic scoreboards and anti-turbulence lane ropes, as well as spectator seating for 250 people.

There is also a 15m learner pool, a sauna and steam room, a four-court sports hall, a 120-station gym and fitness suite, studios for aerobics and spin, two squash courts with spectator seating, two 3G outdoor, floodlit five-a-side pitches, and a clip ‘n' Climb interactive climbing area.

John Oxley, chief operating officer of Places Leisure, commented: “Dover District Leisure Centre is an exemplary leisure destination as well as an inclusive community venue.

"As a social enterprise with a mission to create active places and healthy people, we are looking forward to further developing our relationships with local clubs, partners and National Governing Bodies of Sport at Dover.”