Public welcome the chance to bounce at new trampoline park inside Link Centre Swindon

Fun-loving Swindon residents have been discovering the brand new Better Extreme Trampoline Park which opened at Link Centre on Monday 1 February. And throughout the month you can enjoy the new facilities at a discounted price of £7.95 an hour.

The new 1,100 square metre centre is the second of its kind in the UK operated by charitable social enterprise GLL, following the launch of the Better Extreme Sports Facility in Barking, London in mid-2015.

Offering state-of-the-art equipment including a main court with foam pits, extreme dodgeball area, basketball, fidget ladder, slack line and performance walls, the trampoline park provides a fun haven for children and adults alike. The are 56 individual trampolines to bounce on in the former Link Centre sports hall. People of any age are welcome to take part; trampolining is an especially great way for kids to let off steam in a safe and supervised environment. Older teens who enjoy extreme sports can build up their confidence with support on hand if required, while adults can pit their skills against each other in activities designed to test their abilities to the max. 

The first group of users on 1 February included the Studholme family from Grange Park. Whilst Paul and seven year old Jacob tried out all the different trampolines and foam pits, mum Amy said: "Jacob loves trampolining and is really keen to start lessons. It's really good exercise and as it's been talked about for such a long time we wanted to see what the new trampoline park had to offer. We're really impressed - it's a nice sized hall, but there are lots of different activity areas to use, for children, teenagers and older people, parents can sit in the arena and watch children enjoying themselves or use the viewing gallery, and it's close to where we live.

"Link Centre had been a bit neglected for some years so it's also nice to see the makeover in the mall and cafe area. I can see a lot of people from all over coming to Link Centre to see what's on offer."

A group of soldiers from the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) on a course at the Defence College of Technical Training at the former RAF Lyneham base took the opportunity on their sports afternoon to visit Link Centre to try out the new offering. "A group of us have been attending the Freedog Centre every week since we started our course in November, so we thought we'd have a look," said Jonathon Galpin. "We're very impressed by the range of activities. The three professional grade trampolines are fantastic and the gladiator beam over the foam pit is great."

Chris Mayberry added: "As Link Centre is closer to Lyneham we'll be here most weeks until our course finishes in March, and we'll be telling the other ten guys on our course about what's on offer."

Jonathon and Chris were joined by fellow squaddies Dan Barbeary and Michael Emmings.

The manager of the Extreme Trampoline Park is Ryan Richards who joined Link Centre as a swimming pool life guard and ice rink attendant, at the age of 17, seven years ago. He left to work for GLL at Faringdon Leisure Centre before his current appointment. "We have a really top notch facility here and I'm really keen for everybody to hear about it. During February, including half term week, we're offering an introductory price of £7.95 per hour.* 

"We'll be launching an Extreme membership card in March which entitled users to discounts on normal prices and also in March we'll announce a programme of Extreme exercise classes and Extreme Inclusion which will be trampoline sessions for people with disabilities. Admission for carers is free of charge at any session. In April we'll start trampoline lessons and courses for children and adults. Parent and toddler sessions for 18 months to 5 years have already started."

Commenting on the launch, Jamie Ross, Better Extreme National Sports Manager said: "We're thrilled to be opening this park, which uses the latest state-of-the-art trampolining equipment which we sourced and imported from the USA. We're hoping that it'll become a real destination for the region, attracting visitors from across the South West.

"Better Extreme is part of GLL, a not-for-profit social enterprise and one of our key objectives is to get more people, more active, more often. This state-of-the-art trampoline park is a novel and exciting way to help us do this."

Opening hours are currently Monday to Friday: 4pm to 9pm. Saturday & Sunday - 11am to 7pm.

From 15 February, the trampoline park will be open everyday from 10am to 9pm.

Other attractions at Swindon Link Centre includes an ice rink, swimming pool, gym, cycle studio and outdoor 3G pitches. It's located at the West Swindon District Centre which features a large Asda, newsagents, pharmacy, optician, a NatWest Bank and a Halifax Bank. Across the road is Shaw Ridge Leisure Park with a Cineworld, 10 pin bowling, the DeVere Village Hotel, Pizza Hut and Taj Mahal restaurant.

*All trampoline park customers must wear Better Extreme branded socks at all times when using the park. These are available to purchase for £2 when booking online, or from reception at the venue. For session booking details go to: https://better.legendonlineservices.co.uk/enterprise/onlineticketing/browse/319/7

See information and user terms and conditions at extreme.better.org.uk/swindon/trampoline-park

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Watch the video

Book a child's party at Link Centre which includes an hour of bouncing in the trampolining with a VIP host, 45 minutes in one of the new party rooms and choice of food from a child friendly menu. For details mail: kim.bedry@gll.org 

Win a family ticket We have five family tickets up on offer email us at publisher@swindonlink.com with ‘Trampoline Comp’ in the subject line by 29 February and the winners will be picked at random.

All photos by Richard Wintle of Calyx