The Leisure industry and the impact of COVID-19

The coronavirus outbreak in March ensured all walks of life came to a grinding halt, with the leisure industry being no different. In fact, leisure centres and facilities stayed closed until July 4th in which they were finally able to re-open. Since re-opening, leisure centres have been – like most areas – not receiving the income and interest as they were prior to COVID-19.

. Photo taken by myself

Recently I was given the opportunity to speak with Steve McFarlane, a duty manager at Everyone Active Bourne. To begin with, Steve believes that the site has “adapted quite well” but appreciates it took but it has “some getting used to”. The adaptions in question are “hand sanitisers everywhere, viral plus – our cleaning chemical – everywhere” as well as one-way systems, to ensure two metres are followed in the building. When asked about how Steve perceives the impact on the industry, he stated,

“I think it has been affected, not too badly though. The adaptations that we have put into place is probably the biggest effect on it, but I wouldn’t say that there is any struggle to keep going, due to the size of Everyone Active”.