The Pickaquoy Centre, Sports and leisure complex in Kirkwall, Scotland
The Pickaquoy Centre is a sports and leisure facility in Kirkwall, the main town of the Orkney Islands, offering two swimming pools, sports halls, a fitness area, and a cinema. All of these are housed together in one building on the western edge of town.
The centre opened in 1999 and was at the time the largest investment in leisure infrastructure the Orkney Islands had seen. It was built to meet the needs of an island community that had limited access to indoor sports and entertainment facilities.
The cinema inside the centre screens current films and live broadcasts year-round, making it one of the few such venues across the Orkney Islands. For many locals, it is the only cinema within easy reach.
The centre sits on the western edge of Kirkwall and is within walking distance of the town centre. It is worth checking in advance which activities are available on a given day, as some areas may be reserved for schools or groups.
A campsite run by the same operators sits right next to the building, so visitors can sleep outdoors and use the indoor pools and sports facilities during the day. This combination is unusual for a leisure centre in Scotland.
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