November Venue Circular

cbarber98
Nov 6, 2025
6 min read

Updated: Nov 10, 2025

Download our November Venue Circular as a PDF or read all news articles below (mobile friendly option) - forthcoming news and events occurring at Venue 360.

Our top stories

A New Chapter Begins

When I first stepped through the doors of the brand-new Vauxhall Recreation Club (now Venue 360) over thirty years ago, I could never have imagined the journey ahead. What started as a part-time job while I studied for my Leisure Studies degree has grown into a lifelong passion—for this venue, for the people who bring it to life, and for the community we proudly serve.

Today, one month on from stepping into the role of CEO following Jon Reep’s retirement, I feel both humbled and energised. Humbled, because I know I stand on the shoulders of so many colleagues, members, and partners who have shaped Venue 360 into what it is today. Energised, because I see so much potential in what we can achieve together in the years to come.

I’ll be honest—in the nicest possible way—I’ve been waiting for this opportunity for a while, and I can’t wait to get stuck into the role!

My vision is simple: to ensure Venue 360 is more than just a venue. I want it to be a true hub of sport, fitness, and unforgettable experiences. That means continuing to invest in our facilities, welcoming exciting new events, and making sure every visitor feels part of something bigger than themselves.

I’m fortunate to inherit an excellent team from Jon, along with the support of a dedicated Board of Directors. Alongside my appointment, we’re also delighted to announce two new roles: Georgia Carey as Head of Leisure & Operations, and Carolyne Barber as Marketing Coordinator.

Last month’s newsletter was rightly dedicated to Jon. If I can do even half as good a job as he has done, I’ll consider that a success.

See you around the venue.

Jason Goodall – CEO

New Year’s Eve Party in the Balcony Bar

Bring your party to ours for a night of glitz, glamour & good vibes as we welcome 2026!

On the night: Doors open: 8.00pm | DJ Courtney Brown spinning tunes for all ages on our LED dance floor: 8.00pm-1am | Photo booth fun all night long

Book early for your perfect celebration!

‘Early Bird Tickets only £10’

Limited availability, be quick to not miss out. Offer ends 30th November or before if allocation is sold. £15 tickets there after.

The Balcony Bar – Where the party begins.

For more information and to buy tickets, visit venue360.co.uk/nye or contact our main reception at 01582418873 (option 1).

Christmas is Coming

Here at Venue 360 we love everything Christmas!! So, your Balcony Bar could not miss the chance to celebrate with our new Fruited Drizzle Cake - £3.75. A rich and moist fruit cake topped with cherries and mixed peel drizzled with icing. Couple this with our new Toasted Marshmallow Latte - £3.45, the Christmas spirit will hit you all at once.

If you would rather have a Hot chocolate why not give our Smores Hot Chocolate a try - £3.45. Either way the Grinch in you, will melt away.

Lifelines Members Run Luton Half Marathon

October saw plenty of Lifelines members and staff take on the Luton Half Marathon, with some also opting for the 5K or 10K routes. A big well done to everyone who took part - including Raimond, Niki, Steve, Ali, Jason and Viv - for representing Lifelines with such energy and determination!

In other news...

Upcoming events

Venue 360 plays the host venue to numerous amazing events throughout the year, from party nights to charity fundraisers. All of which, couldn’t go ahead without the brilliant volunteers or companies that organise them.

Please note. In most cases these events are organised by 3rd parties and further information and tickets should be found via contacting the organisers direct.

Pumpkin Competition

We all loved seeing our customers enjoy a healthy competition, but this one was talked about throughout the month. How much did our pumpkin weigh? Well I can say that we had some very optimistic guesses, with one person guessing at over 15kg, and some not so elaborate guesses with a 10lb entry. We even had some customers trying the mathematical approach at working out the weight.

Congratulations to Pali who guessed the closest at 6.7kg and wins a voucher to spend in the Balcony Café Bar. Our pumpkin, at the start month, weighed in at 6.8Kg. A lot of you were very close and missed it by a slim margin, well done to you all!

Who thinks we should run a Christmas Competition?

Members of the Month: Anette & Sheena

Congratulations to Anette and Sheena, our Members of the Month! They used to only attend Pilates, feeling the gym wasn’t for them. Like many, they once found the gym environment intimidating — unsure of form and worried about being watched. After booking an assessment and receiving tailored programs, they now train or join classes up to six times a week and have never looked back. Great work, ladies!

Exercise of the Month: Superset Arms

Try this powerful 21s Bicep Curl & Triceps Dip superset for a great arm workout!

Do 7 curls from straight arms to halfway, 7 from halfway to the top, then 7 full curls.
Immediately follow with bench triceps dips to failure.

Repeat three times for maximum results — and ask an lifelines instructor if you’d like a form check or demo.

Quad vs Hamstring Dominance

Ideally, your quadriceps should be no more than 30% stronger than your hamstrings for proper balance and movement. For instance, if you leg-extend 65kg, aim for around 45kg on the leg curl.

When the hamstrings overpower the quads, it can cause limited knee extension, tightness, and even affect your running form. Balancing your training helps improve performance and prevent injury.

Need further clarification? Speak to a lifelines instructor for advice.

Joy Completes HYROX!

Big congratulations to Joy, our Lifelines instructor, for completing her first-ever HYROX Fitness Challenge at the Birmingham NEC! After months of focused training, Joy finished the eight-discipline event (with 1K runs between each) in an impressive 1 hour 37 minutes.

She’s now training for the London HYROX in December and aiming to beat her time. Interested in competing solo or as a pair? Have a chat with Joy to learn more!

Paulina & Oshy Tackle HYROX Doubles

Well done to our Lifelines members Paulina and Oshy, who also competed at HYROX Birmingham in the Doubles Category! Sharing the eight disciplines equally, the pair showed incredible teamwork and strength throughout.

The doubles event is a great stepping stone to the individual race — and still a serious test of endurance. Fantastic work, ladies!

What a Racket! Club Championship Finals Served Up a Smash Hit!

Last month, Venue 360 Tennis hosted its annual Club Championships Finals Day, delivering 16 thrilling matches packed with top-quality tennis. Both our juniors and adults gave it their all, proudly representing the club.

A special shout-out to our Mini Red and Mini Orange players for their fantastic performances - the future of Venue 360 Tennis is looking bright!

Head Coach Danny Pymont said, “It was a joy and honour to watch the sportsmanship, camaraderie, and impressive level of tennis from our youngest players at the club.’

Congratulations to all who took part.

Club Championship Winners 2025

Men’s Singles - Sam O’Nions

Ladies Singles - Kayla Williams

Men’s Doubles - Nick Hesketh & Nick Pymont

Ladies Doubles - Kayla Williams & Charm Kirk

Mixed Doubles - Kayla Williams & Alex Lempriere

H’Cap Singles - Jethro Shaw

Consolation Singles - Josh England

High Rating Singles - Tim Kidd

Over 50’s - Steve Close

U16’s Boys Singles - Mekhi T

U16’s Girls Singles - Erica N

U13’s Boys Singles - Eddie J

U13’s Girls Singles - Erica N

U13’s Boys Doubles - Eddie J & Archie H

Mini Red Singles - Jedidiah O

Mini Orange Singles - Maya S

Inclusive United

Inclusive United are a community interest company that specialises in creating inclusive sporting opportunities to underrepresented communities.

Starting Thursday 6th November 2025, Inclusive United will be running a variety of exciting sessions including indoor football, futsal, multi-sports, and team activities at Venue 360. These sessions are open to young adults aged 18+ with learning disabilities, neurodiversity and special educational needs.

With no experience required, come and join in to meet new friends, have fun and stay fit in a safe and fun environment.

Visit inclusiveunited.co.uk for more information.

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