'A real shame': Swimmers stage protest over loss of Leeds Dock swimming space
‘You're not going to stop people swimming’
Dozens of swimmers gathered at Leeds Dock on Tuesday for a protest swim calling for the reinstatement of the site’s open-water swimming space.
The protest – a collaboration between the Leeds Dock Swimming Community, Bramley Mermaids, Climate Action Leeds and Imagine Leeds – calls on Interpath, the joint administrators of the Leeds Dock estate, to reinstate supervised open-water swimming.
The campaigners are also calling for the creation of more accessible blue-space swimming areas across the city.
According to the group, open-water swimming has taken place at Leeds Dock for more than five years, with twice-weekly supervised swimming sessions until earlier this month, when Interpath made a “last-minute decision” not to renew the licence with Love Open Water.
“The reasons for the decision remain unclear,” the campaigners added.
One of the protesters, Sophie, said the city-centre open-water swimming site had been a “real point of pride” for Leeds.
“There are only three inland cities in the whole of the UK where you could swim in the city centre, and that was London’s Royal Dock, Manchester’s Salford Quays and the Dock here in Leeds,” she said. “So for this to be taken away I think is a real shame.”
She continued: “Swimming is good for you; it's good for your health, for your well-being, for the communities, and for mental health as well.
“Having this spot is a place where people can swim safely when Love Open Water were here, in a managed place. You're not going to stop people swimming.
“We've all seen it in the news this summer. When people go out and they don't know how to prepare for cold water, and they don't know how to look out for themselves, and they get into danger and tragedies happen.
“We need more places like this, not places closing. Swimming is fun and you can start at any age. I'd encourage everybody to get out there and have a swim.”
However, Interpath told the Yorkshire Evening Post that an agreement between the National Open Water Coaching Association (NOWCA), Love Open Water and the owners of Leeds Dock, which permitted open-water swimming at Leeds Dock, expired on September 30, 2024.
“Since then, we understand that swimming activity has continued at the Docks on an informal rolling basis,” the administrators added.
Leaseco 23 Limited, which owns leasehold interests at Leeds Dock, entered administration in December 2025, with Interpath appointed as joint administrators of the company, formerly known as Leeds Dock Limited.
The site's popular water taxi service also came to a temporary halt before resuming under new ownership in May.
The return of the service followed an unsuccessful attempt by former water taxi skippers to turn it into a community-run co-operative.
“Throughout the administration process, ensuring the safe management of the site has remained of critical importance,” a spokesperson for Interpath added.
“It is therefore with regret that the ongoing facilitation of open-water swimming at the Dock is no longer considered viable under the current circumstances.
“While we recognise that this will be disappointing for those who have enjoyed swimming at the Docks, health and safety considerations must come first.”
The spokesperson added: “The joint administrators remain focused on securing a sale of the site for the benefit of the Company's creditors. This follows the successful sale of the much-loved Water Taxis, which are now fully operational again under new ownership.
“Should a sale be completed, any future owner may choose to consider proposals regarding the future use of the water space at Leeds Dock.”