Days Out NI
Spas & wellness Newtownards

Ards Blair Mayne Wellbeing & Leisure Complex

A council-run spa on the edge of Newtownards that lets children in — which almost no spa does.

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Open dailySpa access from 8.15am Monday to Friday, 9.…
Pre-bookBooking essential
NewtownardsSpas & wellness
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From£20Entry
18+ for spaBest for
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On siteParking

Ards Blair Mayne Wellbeing & Leisure Complex — A council-run spa on the edge of Newtownards that lets children in — which almost no spa does.

  • What you'll enjoy: vitality pool, sauna, sanarium, aroma steam room, salt grotto, chill pool, relaxation area with heated loungers.
  • How long: Two hours per visit for non-members.
  • Book ahead: Open to members and non-members; tickets can be booked online.
  • Who it's for: Aged 8 and over. Ages 8 to 15 must be with an adult 18+ and can only attend during Junior Times. Under 7s not permitted.
  • Cost: Check current prices. Spa and fitness membership is advertised from £20 per month, and non-members pay a per-visit rate.
  • When: Spa access from 8.15am Monday to Friday, 9.15am Saturday, 11.15am Sunday. Spa changing opens later on Tuesday for women and Thursday for men.
Plan your visit

What's in the spa

The vitality pool is the centrepiece, a large pool run between 32°C and 38°C with therapeutic air and water jets, swan-neck fountains and air loungers. From there you can work through the sauna, the sanarium (cooler than a sauna, less humid than a steam room, and easier to sit in for longer), and the aroma steam room infused with eucalyptus. The salt grotto lets you breathe in salt-infused steam. When you are done, the relaxation area has heated loungers and a cascading waterfall for background noise.

Vitality pool with swan-neck fountains, air loungers and water jets Sauna Sanarium Aroma steam room Salt grotto Chill pool Relaxation area with heated loungers Direct access to the swimming pools
Good to know before you go:

Two treatment rooms on site handle holistic and beauty therapies alongside the thermal suite. The wider complex runs classes, gymnastics and kids' activities all week, and the Parklands Café does hot food.

Before you set off

What to bring

  • 🩱SwimwearYou’ll want it for the pool, the thermal suite and the hot tubs.
  • 🧖A towel and a robeSome spas hand them out, some don’t — check when you book.
  • 🩴Flip-flopsEasiest way to get between the sauna, the steam room and the pool.
  • 📱Your bookingTreatments and spa packages fill up, especially at weekends.
Good to know

Everything before you go

Type
council wellness suite inside a leisure complex
What you'll enjoy
vitality pool, sauna, sanarium, aroma steam room, salt grotto, chill pool, relaxation area with heated loungers
How long
Two hours per visit for non-members
Cost
Check current prices. Spa and fitness membership is advertised from £20 per month, and non-members pay a per-visit rate
Booking
Open to members and non-members; tickets can be booked online
Who it's for
Aged 8 and over. Ages 8 to 15 must be with an adult 18+ and can only attend during Junior Times. Under 7s not permitted
When
Spa access from 8.15am Monday to Friday, 9.15am Saturday, 11.15am Sunday. Spa changing opens later on Tuesday for women and Thursday for men
Parking
Parking on site at Ards Blair Mayne, 1 Dairy Hall Lane, Newtownards BT23 4DB
Bring
Swimwear and a towel. Changing rooms have hairdryers and toiletries provided
Questions

Before you go

Can I bring children?
Aged 8 and over. Ages 8 to 15 must be with an adult 18+ and can only attend during Junior Times. Under 7s not permitted
Do I need to book?
Open to members and non-members; tickets can be booked online
What's included, and what should I bring?
Swimwear and a towel. Changing rooms have hairdryers and toiletries provided
What does it cost?
Check current prices. Spa and fitness membership is advertised from £20 per month, and non-members pay a per-visit rate
When is it open?
Spa access from 8.15am Monday to Friday, 9.15am Saturday, 11.15am Sunday. Spa changing opens later on Tuesday for women and Thursday for men
Getting there

Ards Blair Mayne Wellbeing & Leisure Complex is in Newtownards. Parking on site at Ards Blair Mayne, 1 Dairy Hall Lane, Newtownards BT23 4DB. Tap below for directions.

Directions on Google MapsOfficial website See it on our map
Nearby

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The story

Named for a Newtownards man

The complex carries the name of Blair Mayne, the Newtownards-born soldier and rugby international. The building opened in December 2018 and replaced the town's older leisure centre.

What makes the spa unusual is who is allowed in it. Most spas in Northern Ireland set the bar at 16 or 18 and keep the doors shut to families. This one opens dedicated Junior Times so a parent can bring an eight-year-old into a vitality pool and a salt grotto. It is a council facility doing something the luxury end of the market will not.