Beau Sejour to celebrate 50 years with four days of birthday events
- Beau Sejour Leisure Centre will celebrate its 50th anniversary with four days of events from 10 to 13 December
- Activities include a 70s disco, tropical pool party, anniversary concert and free bouncy castles and go-karts for children
- GADOC will perform excerpts from past shows including Fiddler on the Roof, the first show performed at the centre
- Dedicated quiet hours will be held on Saturday and Sunday for neurodivergent or autistic children
- Vale Earth Fair, also marking 50 years, will host local musicians, poets and artists on the concourse stage
Beau Sejour Leisure Centre will mark its 50th anniversary in December with a four-day celebration open to the public, featuring a 70s disco, tropical pool party, anniversary concert and free activities for children.
The birthday programme, running from Thursday 10 to Sunday 13 December, celebrates the sport, culture and leisure hub with events including free bouncy castles and go-karts for children. Ticket prices have been kept low, with several activities free of charge.
The celebrations begin on Thursday 10 December with a 70s disco in the Dave Ferguson Hall, a nod to the decade the centre first opened its doors. Tickets are £1, fancy dress is encouraged, and a retro photo booth will be available to capture the outfits. The event runs from 7pm to 11pm.
On Friday 11 December, the pool will take on a Hawaiian theme for Beau Sejour's 50th Tropical Splash, an evening of time trials on inflatables. Children's sessions run from 4pm to 7pm, followed by adults' sessions from 7pm to 9pm. Tickets for the time trials are £1.
Coastal Connections will provide a DJ on the poolside and in the café, where food and drinks will be available during and after the races.
Guernsey Amateur Dramatic and Operatic Club (GADOC), which has been part of Beau Sejour since the centre's second day of opening, will perform excerpts from past shows on the concourse stage. Props, costumes and memorabilia from previous productions will be on display. Performances begin at 6.30pm with an excerpt from Fiddler on the Roof, the first show ever performed at the centre. The mixed programme will be suitable for all ages. GADOC will celebrate its own centenary in 2027.
Saturday 12 December features the Beausie Bouncy Bonanza and Big Anniversary Concert. From 9am to 5pm, the sports hall will host free bouncy castle and go-kart sessions for children, with face painting and stalls in the concourse.
At 4pm, there will be a dedicated Bouncy Bonanza quiet hour for children who would benefit from a calmer, quieter environment, such as neurodivergent or autistic children.
In the evening, King Rat & The Soul Cats will headline the Big Anniversary Concert in the David Ferguson Hall at 7.30pm.
The weekend closes on Sunday 13 December with a Wild & Wacky Workout at 11am, with tickets priced at £1. A second day of the free Beausie Bouncy Bonanza will take place in the sports hall, with face painting in the foyer and children's stalls in the concourse from 9am to 4pm.
At 4pm, another dedicated Bouncy Bonanza quiet hour will be held for children who would benefit from a calmer, quieter environment.
Vale Earth Fair, which is also celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, will host a programme of local musicians, poets and artists on stage in the concourse. The charity has supported humanitarian causes in Guernsey and overseas for as long as the centre has been open. Timings are to be announced.
Sam Herridge, head of recreation services at Beau Sejour Leisure Centre, said: "For 50 years, Beau Sejour has been at the heart of the community. A place where islanders have learned to swim, played a whole range of sports, seen their first show or music concert, attended a charity event, celebrated together... along with so much more. Almost everyone in Guernsey has a Beau Sejour memory, and this milestone birthday celebration is our opportunity to say thank you. We would love you to be part of it."
All tickets are available to purchase now via guernseytickets.gg.
Q&A
Q: When is Beau Sejour's 50th anniversary celebration taking place?
A: The four-day celebration runs from Thursday 10 to Sunday 13 December, with different events scheduled each day from morning to evening.
Q: How much do tickets cost for the anniversary events?
A: Most ticketed events cost £1, including the 70s disco, tropical pool party time trials and Wild & Wacky Workout. Several activities are free, including the bouncy castles, go-karts and face painting for children.
Q: What are the quiet hours at the Bouncy Bonanza?
A: Dedicated quiet hours are scheduled at 4pm on both Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 December for children who would benefit from a calmer, quieter environment, such as neurodivergent or autistic children.
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