Middleton Arena shut by warehouse fire but members can still swim and gym at no extra cost

Friday, 20 June 2025 17:54

By David Murphy

Middleton Arena remains closed after a major fire broke out at a neighbouring commercial warehouse on Wednesday afternoon, forcing emergency services to cordon off the area.

The blaze, which began around 4.50pm on Wednesday 18 June, continues to burn for a third day, with firefighters demolishing the structure to bring the flames under control. While no injuries have been reported, the scale of the fire has caused significant disruption to nearby facilities, including the popular leisure venue Middleton Arena.

Middleton Arena have confirmed the venue will remain closed until at least early next week, pending further safety assessments from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) and Rochdale Borough Council.

A spokesperson for Middleton Arena said:

“All access to the venue and surrounding area remains restricted on the advice of emergency services, We will only re-open once we are confident it is safe to do so.”

The closure has led to the cancellation of swimming lessons, gymnastics classes, group exercise sessions, and sports bookings. Customers due to attend weekend events are being contacted directly by organisers.

In the meantime, members and customers can use their memberships at other Your Trust leisure centres. These include Heywood Sports Village, Littleborough Sports Centre and Rochdale Leisure Centre.

The arena’s management expressed thanks for the public’s understanding, saying:

“The health and safety of our staff, members and customers is always our highest priority. We remain in regular contact with the fire service and council and will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.”

Residents are still being advised to keep windows and doors closed due to ongoing smoke in the area.