Bene Leisure Centre, on Little Horton Lane, opened in November 2025 and has since developed into a sports hub.
Operations manager Mazn Ahamed said the vision has always extended beyond simply providing these facilities.
“We’re trying to become like a village of activities,” he said.
“We want to provide other things, from cricket to golf.
“We’ve got two golf simulators and we’re offering coaching and golfing as well.”
Mr Ahamed outside Bene Leisure Centre. (Image: Mazn Ahamed)
‘We want more people across West Yorkshire to know what Bene is’
Mr Ahamed said awareness of the centre has grown significantly over the last 10 months, but there is still room to reach more people.
“A lot of people know about the centre,” he said.
“But I think for the upcoming year our aim is to get more people across West Yorkshire to know what Bene is.”
He estimates that between 200 and 250 people visit the venue on busy weekend days, with footfall continuing to increase as more facilities open.
The centre is now home to padel courts, cricket training lanes, golf simulators and a number of independent businesses, including Era Pilates and the soon-to-open Alpha Gym.
Padel emerges as the biggest success story
According to Mr Ahamed, one activity has stood above the rest.
“The most popular thing has been padel,” he said.
The sport has exploded in popularity across the UK in recent years, and Mr Ahamed believes its accessibility is key.
“It’s very easy to play. It’s very hard to master, but it’s very easy to play.”
He added that the sport has proven particularly attractive to older participants because it requires less running than many traditional racket sports.
He said: “It’s really popular among the elderly population because you don’t have to run as much and you don’t have to move as fast.
“It works on your mobility; it works on your motor skills and gets the brain active. A lot of elderly people are getting into this sport, which is good.”
Supporting schools and community groups
While growing the business remains important, Mr Ahamed said helping local people become more active remains at the heart of the project.
“We are a business at the end of the day and we have to make money,” he said.
“But our main goal is to get people active.”
The centre works with schools and community groups and has offered heavily discounted and, in some cases, free sessions for young people.
“We do a lot of programmes to get kids off the streets and get them active,” he said.
The venue also provides discounts for council workers and support for emergency service staff visiting during breaks.
Pilates studio creating a community
One of the newest additions to the centre is Era Pilates.
Co-founder Emma Hyndman said demand had exceeded expectations.
“We have experienced such a demand from the ladies of Bradford,” she said.
Era previously opened sites in Wakefield and Shipley, but Ms Hyndman said Bradford had brought something different.
“I feel like we’ve definitely found a niche market and filled a void that a lot of ladies were missing here in Bradford.”
Gym owner hopes to inspire others
Alpha Gym is another business preparing to open at the complex.
Founder Osama Malik, who grew his brand from a small gym in Bradford, said the expansion had exceeded anything he originally imagined.
“I just wanted to help the community and help keep kids off the streets,” he said.
“Then it’s turned into this big business with a major gym, awards and recognition.”
Rather than focusing solely on exercise, the gym has already organised padel sessions, badminton clubs and running groups.
“We’ve got a really good founding membership, and everyone gets along really well,” he said. “It’s like a family.”
Anniversary plans in the pipeline
As Bene approaches its first birthday in November, Mr Ahamed is considering ways to celebrate the milestone.
While plans have yet to be finalised, he suggested social media events or even a treasure hunt around the site could form part of the celebrations.
He also hinted that further expansion could be on the horizon.
“We’ve got the space and we’re looking to get more stuff in,” he said.
“There are plans, but they’re still in the pipeline.”