Sports & Leisure in Basingstoke at Festival Place
Animal was conceived back in 1987 by two surfers who were really fed up with continuously losing their watches in the water due to the straps breaking under extreme conditions. They came up with a solution in the form of a webbing hook and loop strap that seemed to put an end to their problems.
Setting up 'production' in a back bedroom at one of their mother’s houses, they began to make small quantities of straps and sell them to their surfing friends. The money raised paid for surf trips to far flung spots in Oz and Hawaii where the pair sold more straps to fund their storm chasing escapades.
The simplicity and rugged nature of the strap made it suitable for crossing over into other action sports such as windsurfing, snowboarding, skateboarding, and mountain biking. First and foremost a functional performance product, the strap became a success and Animal was born. Before long, Animal started to make sports watches. Aimed at freesports enthusiasts, they were water-resistant, functional and looked great on the wrist. These watches enjoyed phenomenal success and are now a household name.
Animal is now a design-led sports brand, boasting an extensive team of riders in each of its core sports. These are surfing, snowboarding, windsurfing, mountain biking and kitesurfing. Our 'rider-refined' program means all products get tried, tested and tweaked by the Animal pro team for real rider performance. Animal’s range has now grown to include freesports inspired clothing, watches, wetsuits, technical outerwear, eyewear, footwear, luggage and accessories.
Founded in 1861, Blacks is one of the country's leading outdoor retailers, offering excellent quality products that are suitable for everyday life outdoors and for serious expedition use.
With brands such as Berghaus, Columbia, Helly Henson and The North Face, Blacks have all the latest clothing, footwear and equipment you will need for any adventure. There is also the second cycling department within a Blacks store which has bikes by Madison and a great range of cycling clothing for every kind of cyclist. The friendly and helpful staff are always available to give their expert advice and share their experiences. Find the store on the upper level.
Millets is one of the largest outdoor retailers, offering excellent quality product for everything from family camping to festivals. With brands such as Berghaus, Peter Storm, Eurohike and Trekmates. Millets has a great range of clothing, footwear and equipment for all activities outside from family days out to dog walking. The friendly and helpful staff are always available to give their expert advice and share their experiences.
The Sports Centre is located in the heart of Festival Place in Porchester Square. This versatile facility boasts two state of the art gyms (one ladies only) five dance studios with over 125 classes a week, a newly refurbished swimming pool and spa, plus 5-a-side, badminton and squash. There is also a Play Den for party hire. Join the Sports Centre on an inclusive membership scheme, or as a casual user.
The Basingstoke Sports Centre. Feeing great and having fun...
