Ponds Forge: Sheffield's Olympic-sized pool remains a city favourite

For generations of Sheffielders, Ponds Forge is where they learned to swim, raced down a flume or watched elite divers in action. More than three decades after it opened, the city centre landmark is still one of Sheffield's most popular places to get active.

Ponds Forge International Sports Centre opened in May 1991, ahead of the 1991 Summer Universiade, the World Student Games, for which it was a host venue. Owned by Sheffield City Council, it has an Olympic-sized swimming pool with seating for 2,600 spectators, and a diving pool that, at 5.85 metres, is described as Europe's deepest.

The venue has a proud sporting history. It hosted the 1993 European Aquatics Championships, where a world record was set in the men's 100m breaststroke heats, and the FINA World Diving Series in 2011. Before the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, it was the home base for the USA Diving Squad. Its design was recognised too, winning the British Steel award for best use of steel in construction at the UK Sports Design Awards in 1994.

But Ponds Forge is just as much about family fun. The Surf City leisure pool, which reopened in January 2024, has a 25 metre lane pool, a lazy river, slides, a children's pool, a sensory wall, fountains and a leisure pod with a disabled hoist. There is also a ten-court sports hall for everything from badminton to netball, plus gyms and fitness studios.

In 2026 the sports hall became the home venue of Sheffield Eagles Wheelchair, a wheelchair rugby league team, adding another chapter to its story.

Since January 2025 the centre has been operated by Everyone Active, alongside Hillsborough Leisure Centre and the English Institute of Sport Sheffield. "We look forward to investing in the health and wellbeing of local people," said Phil Bowers, Everyone Active's area contract manager.

Its future looks positive. The council's Built Sport and Leisure Facilities Strategy for 2025 to 2039 names Ponds Forge among its major investment priorities, as the city plans for a population expected to grow by almost 75,000 people.

Whether you are swimming lengths before work or splashing about with the children at the weekend, Ponds Forge remains a true Sheffield institution.

Timetables and memberships for Ponds Forge are available through Everyone Active.