Grid Braehead signs Olympian-backed Swim! for new leisure opening

Entertainment destination GRID Braehead has announced specialist swim operator Swim! will open a new swimming centre at the destination later this year, adding another major family-focused attraction to the scheme.

Founded by Olympic swimmer and double gold medalist, Rebecca Adlington, Swim! is one of the UK’s fastest-growing learn-to-swim brands and has selected GRID Braehead as part of its ambitious national expansion plans.

The new 5,800 sq ft facility will feature a purpose-built teaching pool designed specifically for children’s swimming lessons, alongside Swim!’s latest fit-out concept focused on confidence-building, safety and fun for young swimmers.

The addition of Swim! further strengthens GRID Braehead’s leisure mix, adding a high-quality family operator that complements the destination’s existing offer and supports its continued focus on driving repeat visitation.

Swim!’s opening at GRID forms part of the operator’s wider UK growth strategy, with the brand targeting 17 dedicated centres by the end of 2026. In addition to its standalone sites, Swim! currently operates from more than 30 school, college and university pool locations nationwide.

Rebecca Adlington, Founder of Swim!, commented: “As we continue to grow across the UK, we’re always looking for family-friendly destinations where we can help even more children build confidence in the water. GRID Braehead is a fantastic opportunity for us to bring our learn-to-swim programme to more families across Glasgow and the surrounding areas, helping even more children develop a skill that could save their life.”

Huw Kmiot, Associate Director, Asset Management at Pradera added: “Swim! is an excellent addition to GRID Braehead and further strengthens the destination’s appeal to families and active leisure audiences. The brand complements our existing line-up perfectly and reflects our continued focus on curating a diverse leisure offer that encourages repeat visits and broadens GRID Braehead’s appeal across the region.”