There's a growing lack of swimming facilities globally and no signs that this is going to change. Submission from Canada, with 8,000 kids on waitlists for lessons in Vancouver. Joins well known UK situation, alongside Sweden and Australian data seen recently. olympic.ca/2025/08/06/c...

Data from active apps always shows fascinating consumer insight. Playtomic, who underpin the growth of padel are the latest to share. As the infrastructure doubles in 2026 to over 2000 courts, the sport is moving from novelty into habit. newsletter.padelbusinessmagazine.com/p/playtomic-...

Greggs x Fenwicks

Maximo Park (h). Raucous.

Noble (h). Eclectic, irreverent, genius.

Further evidence of broader leisure trends and shifts in consumer spending. Gym membership becoming essential rather than discretionary spending, alongside other paid fitness services. "People are doing what they can to improve their odds of avoiding illness." www.consultancy.uk/news/43228/c...

Another leisure business announcing strong trading results. Strong demand for fitness services in under-25s seeing record levels of memberships. Total Fitness, with 16 locations across the North of England and Wales, has seen revenue increase 12% to £51.6m. www.thebusinessdesk.com/northwest/ne...

Florence and the machine (h). A mythical spectacular.

Brands now stating their intent to invest into facilities to drive the rapid growth of Padel in the UK. Slazenger, who are part of Mike Ashley's Frasers Group, announcing their investment plans for 2026. Would expect to see strategic acquisition of independents too. sportsnation.uk/slazenger-lo...

Corner of Market Street East and Pilgrim Street in #Newcastle houses what looks like the most grand and greatest #Greggs.

As the new series of Death is Paradise is upon us, providing a welcome hit of Caribbean sunshine to help deal with the relentless rain, I'm loving this playlist which tracks the music from the show. Hopefully it keeps getting updated. open.spotify.com/playlist/28x...

Hannah is the Green Party candidate for Gorton and Denton. She is also a plumber and dog rescuer🐕💪

Watching / listening to the #NUFC press conferences is a new habit I've adopted this season. The authentic interaction between journalists and Eddie Howe is well worth the effort in an era of spin and clickbait. www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwv5...

Fantastic to see GLL continuing to roll out their strategic plan. Leisure is seeing growth and investment across the sector to meet public demand, and so it's no surprise to see this happening as they enhance key sites within their estate. www.healthclubmanagement.co.uk/health-club-...

Fantastic news to see a new lease agreed which saves the wonderful Stanhope Pool. Fundraising needed to modernise before its open again. It's a vibrant community site of joy which is bound to get plenty of support! www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/2579704...

Legends #NUFC stadium tour with Bez! Get in there quick @fnafilms.com. book.newcastleunited.com/en-GB/catego...

A day on the couch looking after my poorly daughter. Together we've binge watched Robson Green's Weekend Escapes. What a treat. Beautiful storytelling, amazing people and stunning places. I think we both feel uplifted. Highly recommended. www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...

More substance on the growth and demand for the UK leisure sector, as David Lloyd come out with a bullish trading statement. 800k high fee paying members, significant expansion plans, driven by consumers prioritising health and well being. www.dailymail.co.uk/money/market...

A bit of positivity to start your working day.

#NUFC hit a streak this time last year. And we know how that turned out! With a fit and healthy squad, after a season of challenges where they've been solving problems, you wouldn't bet against something similar. HWTL.

Fantastic to see the new Sea Lanes site get approval for Canary Wharf. Having overwhelmingly proved the commercially and customer demand for their concept in Brighton, its not a surprise to see this facility innovation roll out. group.canarywharf.com/press-releas...

Archibald Leitch's unrealised development of St. James' Park from 1921 for #NewcastleUnited

As ever, the new adidas / #NUFC ad has plenty of sharp cultural references. It could have featured the kid finding a box of Blue Star matches... the VCRs that were distributed weekly around pubs in the region through an agreement with Newcastle Breweries.

The power of culture. A wonderful chat between two Geordie legends and great friends. I love how Knopfler talks about his lyrics and stories, putting his own experiences and geography into songs. Howay the lads. www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_pa...

Through 2026 we'll continue to see the trend of growing health, wellbeing and leisure investment, which is in response to increasing public demand. Look out for new gyms, padel centres, and new hybrid concepts utilising available spaces. www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-e...

As #NUFC start 2026 with a couple of goals and a win, here's all the @newcastleunited.com goals from 2025. Worth an hour of your time to find your favourites and ones you've forgotten. Here's hoping for more sharp angled 0xG screamers (Murphy / Tonali) incoming! www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctWF...

The 1970s vision for Newcastle United's new Brutalist East Stand at St. James' Park @alexniven.bsky.social

Whinlatter / Basenthwaite. NYE. Fresh.

Rovaniemi (a) Enlightening!

Cycling, leisure provision, public health... File them away in the same dusty cupboard of government. Generate as many socio economic impact studies on ill health, mental health, obesity, levels of physical activity etc as you like, they've not connected the dots. www.theguardian.com/news/2025/de...

Commuting by bicycle in Belgium pays off as employees earn compensation for every km they ride. 1 in 6 employees commute by bike and get a bicycle allowance of €0.28/km. People cycling to work in 2024 earned an average of around €460 net per year (some as high as €810), up 20% over the past year.

Sports facility innovation is moving at an exciting pace. A fascinating indoor cricket centre facilitating diverse communities. In a country with variable weather and defined conditions where cricket is feasible, hopefully we see more of these appear. www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...

After failing to win North East bragging rights, the next two games against Fulham and Chelsea offer #NUFC superiority over South West London, to turn the Kings Road black and white, and get to (another) Carabao cup semi final. #HWTL

Swim confirm their 13th site opens in 2026. Further evidence of private leisure growing to meet public demand in the spaces left by declining public leisure provision. These sites offer innovative spaces and services which underpin their sustainable business models. www.linkedin.com/company/wear...

Seeing leisure stocks talked about so positively reflect positive trends in public health behaviours. Padel courts are appearing across the UK, along with urban Saunas / spas There's also the reality that as public leisure continues to retreat, private leisure grows. www.cityam.com/is-it-time-t...

No local authority in England has demonstrated an "established culture of active travel"

The home FA Cup tie for #NUFC along with the home Carabao Cup and UCL fixtures means this season will give the club a useful new dataset on GA and corporate demand for games, which will build into the new stadium economic forecasting and planning.

Happy to report I'm finally out the other end having had all three over the last 6 weeks! Flu first (wiped out, dehydration, loss of appetite), Cold (congestion, lethargic, usual deluge of snots), then COVID (horrendous cough / sore throat). Avoid the lot if you can! www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Great article about the iconic photographer Martin Parr. Lots to appreciate about having a love and appreciation of the ordinary in everyday life. Simple pleasures are anything but. I'll definitely look forward to the fuller book discussing more of his work. www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...

Gourock Lido, Scotland by Martin Parr, 2004

I continually discover fantastic projects / resources to celebrate and restore outdoor pools, yet nothing has ever been done by policy makers!? Since outdoor pools started closing in the 1970s, it's a consistent theme of public protest and activism. But still to no avail? lidosalive.com/project.html

Wombats (H). Wet, Wild, Chaos!

Looking forward to hosting the Xmas @future-lidos.bsky.social monthly online gathering tomorrow. Significant progress as schemes appear and progress. Much more work and support needed to accelerate and meet the public demand for healthy, accessible, joyous community spaces. Lets get them built!

Spurs (H).

Great to see #NUFC Eddie Howe and Dan Burn awarded Honorary Doctorates by new @northumbriauni.bsky.social Chancellor George Clarke for their significant impact as leaders in the North East. Howay the Lads! www.northumbria.ac.uk/about-us/new...

Important charts:

Peak brand experience... Jellycat, Harrods.

🏆 Cracking night at the Sport Newcastle Annual Awards Dinner at Newcastle Civic Centre - with the Carabao Cup in attendance 🙌 Dan Burn, Sean Neave, Charlotte Wardlaw & #NUFC themselves among the winners ⚫⚪ Steve Harper & Shola Ameobi helped present awards sportnewcastle.org.uk/untitled/

Love being reminded to do this every year. It's a win/win all round

#Greggs Festive bake Friday.