A new Community Interest Company (CIC) has been formed in order to operate sports and cultural venues on behalf of Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWCC) for three years.

Brio Leisure, which is one of the UK's first leisure-based CICs, has secured a contract that will initially run until March 2015 and includes 11 leisure centres and three golf courses.

Among the venues to be operated by the CIC is Chester's Northgate Arena; the EPIC leisure facility in Ellesmere Port; Frodsham Leisure Centre; and Northwich Memorial Hall.

A total of 17 venues will comprise the Brio Leisure portfolio in Cheshire West and Chester; all of which were either operated by local authority divisions or charitable trusts previously.

Brio Leisure managing director Elly McFahn said: "The business has three distinct aspects: entertainment and conferencing, golf centres and leisure centres.

"Brio's aim is to create a model of excellent service and provision for all our customers whichever venue they use."

Details: www.brioleisure.org