Council targets ‘wider community involvement’ as it reveals new fees for Sobell Leisure Centre

Sobell Centre needed major repairs following a flood. Photograph: Julia Gregory

New fees for Finsbury Park’s Sobell Leisure Centre are set to be introduced for its soon-to-open ‘Active Play’ and ‘Active Zone’ areas.

Active Play is a soft play centre for children under eight years old.

An hour and a half of play time for children under two will be £4.95, with entry free for accompanying adults.

Any additional adult must pay a fiver, and the price for any child over the age of two will be £7.95.

Birthday parties are also being offered for £20.75 per hour, and school/club bookings and “inclusive sessions” are £4.95 per head for 90 minutes.

The Active Zone is targeted at older children and is more expensive, with peak time general admission at £12.95 per head, and a £9.30 “saver admission” for off-peak times.

Family tickets are also available for between £34.95 and £58.30, depending on the number of family members.

Both areas are expected to be fully open by autumn and will replace the centre’s ice rink and trampoline park, which was damaged in a flood two years ago.

Islington Council says the pricing structure is inclusive and will attract “wider community involvement”.

There will also be “specific targeting of community groups, schools, youth clubs and adventure playgrounds” which will ensure “that every child in Islington would have used the centre in the first year of operation”.

It is expected that Active Play and Active Zone will attract increased usage for the centre, with the council’s “prudent” prediction being 270,000 annual visitors.