The Newport Centre opened in 1985 as a fitness and leisure activities venue for the city. The site comprised a main entrance on the west side, with a dodecagon shaped wing to the north which held a swimming pool and water park, and a main sports hall to the south, which could be used as a major concert venue. The Newport Centre hosted gigs from the likes of David Bowie, Run DMC, Alice Cooper, and local rock group Feeder. A fitness studio was located on the first floor overlooking the sports hall and a cafeteria overlooking the swimming pool and water park. The 'Riverside Suite' on the first floor was a notable feature of the Newport Centre, which could offer a venue for various events and conferences. During the Covid pandemic, the Newport Centre was used as a vaccination centre.

An exterior light brick facade with low ledges, recessed glazing and round windows near the entrance canopy marked the building as a recognisable feature of Newport city centre for many years, but work started in May 2023 to demolish the building. A £90m redevelopment of the site is planned, where a new Coleg Gwent campus, along with a new leisure centre, will be erected, replacing the Coleg's former home on Nash Road.

M. Powel. RCAHMW. July 2023.

Source:

Investigator's photographic recording; 'The huge plans for demolishing Newport Centre and what's going to replace it', WalesOnline, 15 May 2023