Key Points
- Community Rebirth: Two local swimming teachers, Nichole Robinson and Laura Shaw, are reviving the derelict former Swim Smart building on St Helens Road in Daubhill to create a community resource centre called 'The Bubble Hub'.
- More Than Just a Swimming Pool: In addition to swim lessons, The Bubble Hub plans to offer classes such as dance lessons, aqua aerobics, exercise and wellness lessons, relaxation classes and events for the whole community.
- Overcoming Significant Renovation Obstacles: While initially thinking there would be nothing more than some simple decorating required, the co-founders have had to carry out a complete stripping back of the structure and make significant renovations, including a new roof.
- Access Improvements: Structural improvements will include relocating the changing rooms to the ground floor, along with creating wider entrance ways to allow full accessibility for those in wheelchairs and with babies in pushchairs.
- Saving Local Heritage: The site is being saved from other potential development plans that would result in the swimming pool being filled in and the area losing a very important part of its swimming infrastructure in the current climate of facility closure around the country.
- Raising Money Through Crowdfunding: A crowdfunding effort supported by an Amazon wish list is being made to cover costs due to increasing renovation expenses and high initial public interest, with over 350 members on the priority list.
Daubhill (Bolton Today) August 31, 2026 – Two local swimming teachers have embarked on an ambitious venture to breathe fresh life into a derelict swimming baths in Bolton, taking on unexpected renovation challenges to deliver a multi-generational community hub offering far more than basic swimming lessons. As reported by Infrastructure Now and in original reporting by The Bolton News, Nichole Robinson, founder of Splash Stars, and Laura Shaw, founder of Jelli Swim Academy, have taken over the former Swim Smart premises located on St Helens Road in Daubhill to establish ‘The Bubble Hub’. The project seeks to create an inclusive space providing health, fitness, learning, and social support for individuals ranging from newborn infants to senior citizens.
What Is the Vision Behind The Bubble Hub in Bolton?
The project aims to establish a vibrant, all-inclusive focal point for the residents of Daubhill and the broader Bolton borough. As documented in media coverage by Infrastructure Now, co-founders Nichole Robinson and Laura Shaw designed the venue to bridge gaps in local health and social infrastructure. Rather than operating purely as a private swim school, the facility will accommodate a diverse schedule of activities.
Alongside traditional swimming tuition, planned programming spans aqua aerobics, structured dance classes, holistic fitness and wellbeing sessions, relaxation therapies, and targeted community gatherings. According to reporting by The Bolton News, the founders envision the building as an interactive environment where local residents can improve physical fitness, foster mental wellbeing, and build lasting social connections across generations.
What Renovation Challenges Have the Founders Encountered?
Bringing the disused building back up to safe, modern standards has proved far more demanding and costly than initially anticipated. As detailed by The Bolton News reporter covering the site's progress, the true condition of the building only became clear after the lease had officially been signed.
Describing the harsh reality of taking over the premises, Laura Shaw stated:
"We took the lease on the building thinking it just needed a clean and a paint. That's certainly not been the case, we had to basically strip it back and renovate it".
The extensive structural work required a full strip-out of the existing interior components. As reported by Infrastructure Now, subsequent inspections uncovered critical defects, most notably the urgent requirement for a complete roof replacement, which unexpectedly added significant financial strain to the development budget.
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How Is Accessibility Being Improved Throughout the Building?
A primary architectural objective of the refurbishment project is modernising access to make the facility universal for all visitors. As covered in reports by The Bolton News, the original layout presented physical barriers for individuals with mobility challenges, wheelchair users, and families with prams.
To address these limitations, the founders initiated a spatial redesign, which involves shifting primary changing room facilities downstairs and expanding entry points throughout the lower levels. Outlining their commitments, Laura Shaw explained to reporters:
"A big part of what we're doing is trying to make the building accessible. We want to make sure the lower building and doors are widened so wheelchairs and prams can fit through them".
While the swimming basin itself is now largely finished and requires only minor final touches, significant labour continues on internal decoration, accessibility adjustments, and the final fit-out of an upstairs dance studio.
Why Is Preserving Local Swimming Pools So Vital Today?
The rescue of the St Helens Road site comes at a crucial juncture for aquatic sports and community leisure infrastructure across the United Kingdom. As highlighted in news reports by Infrastructure Now, municipal and private swimming pools nationwide continue to face immense financial pressure driven by elevated energy tariffs and rising operational costs, prompting widespread facility closures.
Highlighting the urgency of the situation, Laura Shaw told media representatives:
"Especially now with the amount of pools closing down, and drowning is on the rise, something needs to change. We might be mad doing it in this climate, but it's not a laughing matter".
Beyond providing water safety skills, preserving the site maintains a historical leisure asset for the town. As revealed in reporting by The Bolton News, Laura Shaw stated that when she and Nichole Robinson first viewed the vacant property, two competing commercial bidders were intending to fill in the swimming pool entirely and repurpose the space for non-aquatic commercial uses. By stepping in, the pair successfully saved the physical pool structure from permanent destruction.
Emphasising their broader goal for the neighborhood, Laura Shaw noted:
"We just want this to be more of a community thing, and I don't feel there is anything in the area like what we're offering or what we're trying to offer, there's going to be so much more than just swimming lessons in that building".
How Has the Local Community Reacted to The Bubble Hub?
Public reception to the revitalisation project has been overwhelmingly positive across the local area. According to coverage by Infrastructure Now, the initiative has already generated substantial demand, with more than 350 local residents registering for a priority waiting list ahead of the official opening date.
To maintain transparent public engagement and share the realities of commercial renovation, Nichole Robinson and Laura Shaw have been documenting their progress online. As reported by The Bolton News, the founders have posted regular video updates across social media platforms including TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook, offering local followers an unedited look into the triumphs and hurdles of the construction process.
How Is the Renovation Project Being Funded?
To manage the financial demands brought on by unexpected structural discoveries and escalating material costs, the team has turned to community fundraising initiatives. As detailed in reports published by Infrastructure Now and The Bolton News, the founders launched an online crowdfunding campaign alongside a public Amazon wishlist to crowd-source essential materials, equipment, and finishing supplies.
Supporters looking to contribute to the ongoing restoration can access direct links to these fundraising channels via The Bubble Hub Bolton’s official Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok social media channels. Work remains ongoing at the St Helens Road site, with both founders expressing confidence that The Bubble Hub will soon open its doors as a multi-functional venue for health, activity, and social unity in Daubhill.