The new facility comes in response to a significant rise in demand for gymnastics across the region, with participation increasing by more than 170% since 2021.
Xcite Bathgate has been at the heart of this growth, driving more than half of all gymnastics participation increases in recent years. Many sessions are now at or near capacity, with waiting lists in place.
To meet this demand, a £330,000 investment will transform an underutilised space into a modern, purpose-built gymnastics facility, creating more opportunities for children, young people and families to get active.
Designed as a flexible and inclusive environment, the new arena will feature specialist equipment, dedicated learning zones and dual activity areas, allowing multiple programmes to run at the same time.
The arena will host a wide range of activities, including:
Early years and pre-school classes
Recreational gymnastics
Club and competitive training
Adult sessions
The facility will also support schools and community groups, helping more people build confidence, strength and coordination through movement-based activity.
As well as increasing participation, the new arena will create new employment and development opportunities within the local community.
This includes a Gymnastics Development Officer role and up to 16 new coaching positions, alongside fully funded training opportunities through Xcite’s Become a Coach programme.
These initiatives will help build a sustainable local workforce while opening up new career pathways in sport.
Gymnastics continues to be particularly popular among young people and girls, and the new facility will ensure more local children can access the sport while providing clear pathways for progression.
The arena will also contribute to wider community wellbeing by offering inclusive, accessible opportunities for people of all ages and abilities.
Ben Lamb, Chief Executive Officer of Xcite, said:
“The new Bathgate Gymnastics Arena is a really exciting development for the community and for gymnastics in West Lothian. Demand for our gymnastics programmes has grown rapidly in recent years, and this dedicated facility will allow us to welcome many more participants, while providing a high-quality environment for learning, development and progression. We are grateful to our partners at West Lothian Council for their support, which has made this project possible.”
Executive Councillor for Economy, Community Empowerment and Wealth Building, Susan Manion, said:
“We are delighted to be able to enable West Lothian Leisure in creating this fantastic new facility that will benefit the local community for generations to come. There is clearly a huge increase in demand for gymnastics and this facility will allow more young people, adults and families to participate in the sport.”
Building work will begin on 27th April and is expected to take approximately 4 weeks.
During this time, the Gymnastics Arena will be fully closed, and no activities will take place in the space.
This is a major investment in gymnastics across West Lothian.
The new arena will:
Provide modern equipment and enhanced facilities
Create more opportunities for all ages and abilities, including ASN, pathways and adult sessions
Support stronger development pathways into clubs
Create new employment opportunities within the local community
Overall, it will help more people get active and support the continued growth of gymnastics in the area.
The new space will support a wide range of activities, including:
Expanded gymnastics programme for all ages and abilities
Adult gymnastics sessions
Development pathways
Birthday parties and recreational activities
Improved opportunities for progression into club gymnastics
Will gymnastics still be running at other Xcite venues?
Yes - gymnastics sessions will continue at other Xcite venues.
I come to Bathgate for my gymnastics lessons. What happens to my class?
All coaching participants will be contacted directly with details of any changes or disruptions
We’ll continue to share updates as the project progresses
I’m new and interested — how can I stay informed?
Use the form below to register your interest to receive updates on the new arena and upcoming opportunities.
Will memberships and timetables change?
Further details on memberships and updated timetables will be shared closer to reopening.
Will I still be able to track progress on the Home Portal?
During the closure period, your child’s progress will not be visible on the Home Portal.
What happens to club bookings?
All clubs with bookings in the arena space will be contacted directly with information and next steps.
We’ll continue to provide updates as the project progresses.
I’m part of a club interested in hiring the new space - what should I do?
Please register your interest or contact the team at: coaching@westlothianleisure.com
Will the rest of the venue remain open?
Yes - Xcite Bathgate will remain open as normal.
We’ll aim to keep disruption to a minimum, however:
There may be occasional noise during installation works
Some car park areas may be temporarily closed for deliveries
We’ll keep customers updated with the latest information on any disruptions as far in advance as possible. The latest venue updates will be shared on our website here: Latest Xcite Venue Updates
