Berwick Sports & Leisure Centre — Attraction in Berwick-upon-Tweed

I would just like to add how wonderful this pool is. We took our granddaughter and grandson to Haggerston Castle on the 2nd of May for 3 nights. We went to Berwick swimming pool and they both had an amazing time. To explain our grandson has Potocki Lupski Syndrome, it does take time to get him ready in the morning and it has to be done in his time. Hence as we had booked their hour swimming, we were late. By the time we got ready to enter the pool we had lost at least 30mins of our time. It's booked in hourly sessions. As our grandson loves this pool and it takes him a bit of time to take stock of his surroundings, it was almost time for him to leave his session, which went down like a lead balloon. Anyway I spoke to a lovely lifeguard, explained our situation and our grandsons condition and why we were late for this session, to which she said, just stay in the pool for the rest of your allocated time, especially for the kids, we were delighted for both grandkids. All lifeguards understood our situation and did not once question why we were still in the pool. They have a fantastic soft play area while you sit and have a coffee/tea/juice and something to eat, he absolutely loved this and couldn't wait to play in it. You can also view the other children having fun through the window while eating. The staff from the moment we entered the pool who register you in, to the cafeteria staff are absolutely wonderful people and nothing was a bother to them, whatever we asked for was done with a genuine smile. Our granddaughter who helps her parents, grandparents(us) so much with her brother and never wavers or complains about helping him is an absolute star, she loves this pool, especially for her brother, if only we lived nearer, we live in Scotland, yes I know not far, but to far for us to go every weekend with her as she deserves the most special treats and time out for herself, she is a fantastic little helper/young carer to her mum and dad and little brother. To all the staff in Berwick swimming pool, a huge round of applause 👏👏👏 to each and every one of you. Keep doing what you do, it obviously works, certainly in our...

Leisure centre gym, Berwick. I've been a member of this gym for 6 months or so and it has truly been the worst gym experience I have ever had. In the past. I've been a member of at least a dozen gyms throughout the UK. During my very regular gym attendance over 22 years, I have never encountered such a bunch of unfriendly, cliquey, nanny job-worths as the staff here. They are totally obsessed with "health and safety" issues and have completely lost sight that one reason they are there is to offer a decent customer experience. In the past 6 months, no member of staff has ever greeted me, even though I see them most days of the week. One guy has acknowledged me with a nod occasionally. Worse still, I have recently been pulled up half a dozen times over "safety" issues. Today it was for using the fitball for chest press exercises, as supposedly the fitball may burst. I weigh 65 kg and I was lifting 52kg in total. My fitball bought at a local shop is marked on the ball as having 500kg capacity (see photo)...The gym one wasn't labelled up but a single man may weigh more than the total weight today. I have also been reprimanded in front of other punters (and it was like being back at school), for daring to move the ski pull machine 6 inches to allow me to use the sled a little more easily as it obscured the track. At my previous Nuffield gym, the ski pull and rowers were wheeled all over the place by the punters for circuit training. I have also been reprimanded for using too many jump boxes and was even told to be careful with dumbbells in a central area of the gym, which bizarrely has a wooden suspended floor. Here I was doing renegade rows..... hardly a weight drop activity. This is the sort of place where you regularly arrive in a relaxed state and leave angry and frustrated. The gym facilities (if you behave) are ok, but in my opinion the staff issues make this a miserable place to be. The best thing about the gym is that there is no ongoing contract, so you can get out at the end of the month with no penalty. Needless to say, I'll not be stepping into that place again. Ironically it's called "Places for...

Positives: the swimming lessons and instructors are fantastic. Good size car park (although it’s a shame single people feel entitled to use disabled and family spaces with no blue badge)

Negatives: the pools are FREEZING. My one year old was in the pool only 10 minutes before he started shaking with the cold. Two other young babies at the time were also taken out of the pool for the same reason.

If you have a baby and want to take them swimming, expect to have to put them on the disgusting toilet floor or changing room floor if you need to go to the toilet or get changed. Other leisure facilities in the Scottish Borders have IKEA high chairs ( just £9 each) in toilets and changing rooms. It would make a massive difference, keeping babies safe and secure and off the vile floor. The fold down changing trays don’t have any straps either so as soon as baby is sitting up it’s a nightmare trying to keep baby safe while getting dry and dressed yourself.

Places Leisure have got rid of the wrist bands for the lockers (previously rubber ones you can wear in the pool) - this has changed to a card that has to be left as the side of the pool for anyone to swipe and steal your stuff - easy target for thieves. If someone sees which locked you have chosen let’s hope you’ve not got any valuables! Plus, if the card were to go missing you would need to walk all the way through to the front desk dripping wet for them to get you another one. Is that safe? Trailing puddles of water through the building? I’m assuming this cutback is to ensure more profit for shareholders. I feel as if the people who make these decisions don’t have a shred of common sense.

One member of the cafe staff if very rude and blunt, brushes off concerns and was seen playing on personal phone and taking a personal phone call while working. 99% of the staff are brilliant, however it’s a shame one person lets...