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Sugden Sports Centre is a large sports facility on Grosvenor Street in central Manchester, jointly owned by the University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University . It is
Sugden Sports Centre is a large sports facility on Grosvenor Street in central Manchester, jointly owned by the University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University . It is used mainly by students and staff, but members of the public can also pay to use the gym, courts and classes. This guide covers the facilities, prices, opening hours and the practical details that matter before your first visit.
The centre sits just off Oxford Road, close to the main university buildings and within walking distance of Manchester Piccadilly station . It is jointly owned by the two universities, which together have a combined population of around 70,000 staff and students .
The facility is programmed primarily for university sport: casual use, fitness classes, student sports clubs and participation programmes . That means the timetable is built around term dates and student needs. However, the centre is not student-only. The ownership documents describe “some limited community usage” and note potential to extend this during student vacation periods . In practice, public users can book courts and pay for gym access, but they should expect student clubs to have priority during term time.
Official university listings describe a 200-station gym with Matrix equipment, fitness classes including HYROX, sports halls, squash courts, a dance studio and a 5-a-side pitch . A facilities management document from 2024 gives a slightly more detailed breakdown: a 100+ station fitness suite, group exercise studio, dedicated spin studio, two 8-court badminton sports halls, six squash courts and an outdoor 3G five-a-side football area .
The difference between “100+” and “200” stations is likely a matter of how the gym floor is counted, for example whether free weights and functional areas are included. For a casual visitor, the practical point is that the gym is large enough to support a full workout, with free weights, resistance machines and cardio equipment.
The squash provision is worth noting. The 2024 facilities document lists six squash courts, while some older or third-party listings mention four . If squash is your main reason for going, check court availability when you book rather than relying on older directory listings.
The sports halls are heavily used by university clubs during term time. The facilities document states that the term-time programme “impacts heavily on sports hall and 3G in particular” . Casual badminton or football bookings are therefore more reliable during university holidays or daytime slots.
Sugden uses tiered pricing, with students paying the least, university staff in the middle, and public users paying the standard rate. The most reliable current figures come from Manchester Metropolitan University’s sport pages.
A 12-month single-centre student membership at Sugden is listed at £199 . A 9-month version is £179 . Monthly direct debit options are available at £21 for off-peak access and £28 for peak access .
If you want access to more than one Better centre, including the Manchester Aquatics Centre, a multi-centre student membership is £270 for 12 months, £220 for 9 months, or £33 per month on direct debit . University staff can arrange membership by salary deduction .
Third-party listings suggest pay-as-you-go access from around £7.50, with bookable classes from around £4.50 . These figures are not confirmed on the official university pages in the search results, so treat them as a guide and confirm at reception or on the booking system. Public rates are generally higher than student rates, and you may need to create a Better account to book online.
| Membership type | Price |
| Student 12 months (Sugden only) | £199 |
| Student 9 months (Sugden only) | £179 |
| Student monthly off-peak | £21 |
| Student monthly peak | £28 |
| Student 12 months (multi-centre) | £270 |
Source: Manchester Metropolitan University sport page
Official university listings give slightly different hours. The University of Manchester sport page states Monday to Friday 06.15 to 22.30, Saturday 09.00 to 19.30, with Sunday hours not fully visible in the search result . A 2024 facilities document states Monday to Friday 07.00 to 22.30, and Saturday and Sunday 09.00 to 19.00 . A third-party listing gives 09.00 to 19.30 on weekends .
The practical advice is to check the live timetable before travelling, especially for early morning or weekend visits. The centre also closes on Christmas and bank holidays, with dates agreed annually .
The address is 114 Grosvenor Street, Manchester, M1 7HL . It is roughly a 10-minute walk from both Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Oxford Road stations . The centre has step-free access via the main entrance, with manual doors and adapted toilets on the ground floor . There is no dedicated quiet space, and no alcohol is permitted .
Parking is limited. The facilities document does not specify a large car park, and one third-party listing mentions parking as an available facility without giving numbers . For most visitors, public transport or walking is the more predictable option.
If you are a student at either university, bring your student ID. The price gap between student and public rates is significant, and membership checks are standard.
The centre has a large gym with Matrix equipment, fitness classes, sports halls for badminton and other court sports, squash courts, a dance studio and an outdoor 5-a-side pitch . A spin studio and group exercise studio are also listed in facilities documents .
A 12-month single-centre student membership is £199, with a 9-month option at £179. Monthly direct debit is £21 off-peak or £28 peak. Multi-centre student membership including the Manchester Aquatics Centre is £270 for 12 months .
Weekday opening is listed as either 06.15 or 07.00 until 22.30, depending on the source. Weekend hours are around 09.00 to 19.00 or 19.30 . Check the live timetable before travelling, as hours can vary.
Yes, but access is limited compared with student use. The centre is programmed primarily for university sport, and community usage is described as limited, with more availability during student vacation periods . Public users can book courts and pay for gym access at standard rates.
