Centre plans to host live boxing
Braywick: Council approves application from leisure venue
Live boxing looks set to return to Maidenhead after a licensing application by the operators of Braywick Leisure Centre, Leisure Focus, was approved.
Professional boxing and wrestling had taken place at the Magnet Leisure Centre before its closure but they are yet to be held at Braywick since it opened in September 2020.
Under conditions requested by Thames Valley Police, the leisure centre would be able to hold up to four boxing or wrestling events per year, although cage fighting would be banned.
The venue would also be required to provide door staff on fight night, with appropriate CCTV in place which could be made available for TVP upon request.
Furthermore, the application also covers the provision of other ‘regulated entertainment’ such as plays, films and live music.
An alcohol licence is also included in the application. This would provide the opportunity to serve alcohol up until midnight from
Monday to Saturday, with a 10.30pm closing time on Sunday.
Objections to the licence led to it being discussed by councillors at a brief sub-committee meeting on Friday, September 24.
The two objectors, who had submitted comments prior to the meeting, expressed concerns over the sale of alcohol and the issue of noise for visitors at the neighbouring Braywick Cemetery.
One resident said: “The leisure centre should be a leisure centre to improve the fitness and health of Maidenhead residents.
“It is not an entertainment venue which will create endless misery for residents in this residential area.”
Leisure Focus confirmed that a ‘strict behaviour code’ will be displayed and adhered to for all events.
The organisation also said noise levels would be monitored.
At Friday’s meeting, Mark Camp-Overy, managing director of Leisure Focus Trust, confirmed that the application was ‘essentially the same’ as the previous licence at the Magnet Leisure Centre.
“Absolutely, [we agree to] the conditions that have been discussed – these are the conditions that have been put in by the police,” he said.
“We have met with people who have made objections, and we have some additional operational areas that we have agreed to.”
Mr Camp-Overy added that signage would be in place to remind visitors to be ‘considerate’ when leaving the site and said the leisure centre would be ‘supporting’ RBWM in the council’s tree planting initiative to minimise noise disruption to Braywick Cemetery.
Yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon the Royal Borough confirmed that councillors had approved the application subject to the requested conditions.