Historic Leigh Ballroom Reopens as Eastleigh Town Community Hub
The building that has served Eastleigh as an Army drill hall, roller rink, dance school, and youth club has opened its latest — and most community-focused — chapter as ETCH.
The Leigh Ballroom — one of Eastleigh's most recognisable and history-laden buildings — has officially reopened as the Eastleigh Town Community Hub, known as ETCH.
The building was formally opened by Eastleigh Mayor Cllr Janice Asman and Eastleigh Town Council chair Cllr Gaz Richardson. It now serves a dual purpose: a flexible daytime venue for local groups, charities, and community organisations, and an evening youth facility with free weekly sessions for young people aged 11 to 16.
A building that has lived many lives
The story of this site goes back further than most Eastleigh residents realise. Originally constructed before the Second World War as a Territorial Army and Army cadet drill hall, the building subsequently served as a roller skating rink, a council staff club, a dance hall, and a dance school.
The Leigh Ballroom name — affectionately used by generations of locals — stuck through most of those incarnations. In 2011, a £680,000 refurbishment transformed the building into the ENERGY youth club, complete with a fully soundproofed recording studio. Now, in 2026, it has entered what the council is calling its most purposeful chapter yet.
What ETCH offers
During the day, the hub is available for hire by local groups, charities, and community organisations. In the evenings it becomes a dedicated youth space. Free sessions run every Thursday from 6pm to 8.30pm (drop-in) and every Friday from 5pm to 6pm (tournaments). Soft drinks and snacks are provided, and no booking is required.
Cllr Richardson set out the vision clearly: "ETCH is about bringing people together and creating opportunities for our community to thrive. This building has always been an important part of Eastleigh's history and it is fantastic to see it given a new purpose."
Local organisations interested in daytime hire can contact Eastleigh Town Council directly.