Report - King Alfred leisure center (Bowling alley and Megazone) - January 10th 2024

[tobytron]

I've seen this place floating around on facebook and instagram but I don't think there have been any reports yet





History:

I'll keep the history brief as there is not much interesting about the history outside of its use by the royal navy and there isn't much I could find online

The King Alfred leisure centre was built just before war was declared in 1939. It was commandeered by the royal navy as "HMS King Alfred" for the training of RNVR officers.
Following the war it kept the name and opened to the public as the King Alfred leisure centre.
It saw many since closed developments including a 10 pin bowling alley which opened in 1960 and changed hands multiple times before it finally closed in 1989, a Megazone ( laser tag, closed in 2004 due to legal problems) and a bowles club which closed in 2014.

Currently it features a 25m 6 lane swimming pool, a larger pool with a slide and a smaller one for children as well as multiple gyms and a ballroom which is rented out for events.

Recently, the King Alfred centre has been experiencing multiple technical difficulties. It was shut for multiple weeks in the start of 2023 when its boilers broke down and it had problems with its water supply that saw it close for a couple days last month.

The council is planning to demolish it to build a new leisure centre with multiple locations proposed including on top of the old one.
Recently a board was ripped off in the car park leading in which has since been sealed. I'll try to keep any who want to know updated as i only live about an hours walk away from this place.

The Explore:
I went to have a look at this with some local mates as soon as I heard it was open. Squeezed under a board and through some bars and I was in. Looked around the whole of the bowling alley and megazone but missed the bowls club which was also apparently open. Sorry about the photo quality, I don't have the money for a decent camera.



Bowling alley:

Megazone:

There was also an old rotten weed grow at the end of the silver pipes in the back that I didn't get any photos of.

As well as an infestation of what I think are oriental cockroaches (correct me if I'm wrong) making the most of the warm environment under the heated pool.
I counted 7 when I was own there but that just means that there were probably many more I wasn't seeing.

Thanks for reading
and credit to @JasonS4s for the advice getting in.

 

[Bikin Glynn]

Well done for getting first report of this one, I hate to say it but it looks battered already, but that's what happens when it goes around FB as quick as this has.
Heard it's also been sealed up again which is unsurprising too.

 

[mookster]

Well done for getting first report of this one, I hate to say it but it looks battered already, but that's what happens when it goes around FB as quick as this has.
Heard it's also been sealed up again which is unsurprising too.

And it's already made it's way into the local gutter press too

 

[tobytron]

Well done for getting first report of this one, I hate to say it but it looks battered already, but that's what happens when it goes around FB as quick as this has.
Heard it's also been sealed up again which is unsurprising too.

The entrance was a board that got ripped off in the main car park. It has since been sealed.
There are fire doors leading into the Megazone from the ballroom that used to be open but those doors have similarly been screwed in at the top.

 

[Kye_Explorers_Return]

The entrance was a board that got ripped off in the main car park. It has since been sealed.
There are fire doors leading into the Megazone from the ballroom that used to be open but those doors have similarly been screwed in at the top.

Hi there I’m just wondering what fire exit door you talking about

 

[albino-jay]

i kind of enjoy the bad photos on this one. Gives it a 90’s disposable camera kind of feel.

 

[tobytron]

Hi there I’m just wondering what fire exit door you talking about

There are some big wooden doors at the bottom of some stairs down from the ballroom. The ballroom is only used as an events venue so most of the time its completely empty. Doesn't matter now though as they've been screwed in at the top.

 

[Bikin Glynn]

i kind of enjoy the bad photos on this one. Gives it a 90’s disposable camera kind of feel.

I thought they were took with a potato!

 

[tobytron]

I thought they were took with a potato!

The camera on my Samsung A12 isn't ideal but it wont stop me exploring

 

[Kye_Explorers_Return]

There are some big wooden doors at the bottom of some stairs down from the ballroom. The ballroom is only used as an events venue so most of the time its completely empty. Doesn't matter now though as they've been screwed in at the top.
[/QUOTE
I know what you talking about the fire exit door leads to the ballroom that fire exit door I open that fire exit door because just in case if they sealed that door upstairs that just why I open that door and these photos I took in ballroom

 

[tobytron]

That's the bowles club around the other end of the leisure centre. I missed it when I went but I'll have to give it another attempt when I get back to brighton

 

[Bikin Glynn]

The camera on my Samsung A12 isn't ideal but it wont stop me exploring

Tbh a better light would help more, look for something with more of a spread than a spot, it would improve pics no end

 

[tobytron]

Tbh a better light would help more, look for something with more of a spread than a spot, it would improve pics no end

Thanks for the advice but I don't have much of a budget. Any cheap options you recommend?

 

[JasonS4s]

Wow, I've wondered what it was like inside for many years, great to see finally!
Unfortunately when I saw the way in it was the middle of the day and I was out walking the dog and Mrs, so couldn't go in myself. Then they closed it up tight before I could get back.
Well done!

 

[Ellie0203]

I live 20 mins away and this is on my list, what’s access like right now?