South Charnwood Leisure Centre

I have been using this center for almost a year now and below are my thoughts (minus the classes because I haven't taken any). Generally speaking it is quite a nice centre. Small, but nice. - membership: I have the Premium Membership where I can "Bring a friend 4 per month", yet, every single time when I'm booking a swimming for myself and my boyfriend: a) I can't do it on the app or on the website - the only way to do it is over the phone or face to face b) I have to tell people at the reception that I have a Premium Membership and I can bring a friend 4 times a month for free - swimming pool: a) lots of times the water in the pool is inadequate to the temperature outside. When it's cold outside, water in the pool is quite cool, when it's boiling hot outside, the water in the pool is very warm b) the pool itself could be cleaned up. It looks quite dirty at the bottom c) could have more lanes slots/times available. - changing room (ladies) (swimming pool): a) showers definitely need updating as they look old and tattered, and most of the time only 2 out of 3 works b) out of two toilets, only one have a working light c) there are two hairdryers and only one of them works. No socket to plug your own hairdryer d) no one monitors who comes in and in what footwear. Especially in the winter time you can dirty shoeprints on the floor (there are protective covers for the shoes as you walk in, but obviously people can't be bothered to put them on. Luckly I'm wearing pool sliders) - general area toilets (ladies): Another are that definitely needs updating. With two toilets: a) one is always leaking and there's a puddle in the toilets b) the lock hardly ever works - general area changing rooms (ladies): And another are that needs updating. a) (not 100% sure as I haven't been in there for a while) no additional socket to plug your own hairdryer b) haven't used any of the showers there so can't comment on them, but one of the showers was leaking - gym area: This is actually pretty good. Much smaller than I thought and in a peak times is hard to do any exercise (especially with quite few time wasters who just sits there chatting, or scrolling down on their phones), but good equipment. Just enough for what you need if you're not a pro. - staff: Most of the time friendly. There are times when they can't be bothered or don't really know much/can't provide any information, but mostly helpful and polite. - car park: Never had a problem with finding a parking space. I would suggest to definitely update the rest of the site. Before covid-19 the site was open from 6am (along with the swimming) which was ideal to pop in before work and in the summer when it was boiling hot. Now apparently no one would come to work to start at 6am (???).

The swimming in the pool feels like being gassed. The chlorine is so strong and the atmosphere is terrible. I couldn’t stop coughing, and felt asthmatic. I’ve swam in a lot of pools all over the county and this is one of the worst for it. I’m not the only one who’s said this and when you tell the staff they just say “well we have to work in it”.

Wonderful gym, I’ve cold air conditioning in the gym, clean toilet and shower facilities when I have used them. Haven’t used the swimming pool as the times it’s available don’t quite suit me, the app to book sessions is good. Hit it at peak time during the day and it can be a little daunting and busy so off peak visits are great. The equipment is easy to use and maintained to a high standard! Phone signal is rubbish in the area but I do believe you can log onto wifi so isn’t an issue.

Good value for money, exceptional customer service, good size car park. Just two issues stopping this place from being 5 stars rated: 1. Lane swimming is not possible outside bookable only sessions which are only few/couple a day 1 hour slots. Since there's only few you end up sharing very narrow lanes with six plus swimmers 2. Gym area had been refurbished and equipment is nice but it's bit small. If you come off peak you are alright otherwise it's a challenge to keep your routine while having to wait for someone to finish.