Swallows Leisure Centre — Attraction in Borough of Swale

I'm really frustrated and quite disappointed with today's experience. When i learnt that a lane is available for swimmers during children's swimming classes, i was very happy and this was a contributing factor for starting my membership also.

Today, the only one available lane for swimmers was full of children playing and loitering at each end of the lane, making it very difficult for the swimmers wanting to just swim. In-fact, most were zig zagging past them and turning around before the end of each length.

Following my daughters swim class, we then headed to the reception to collect her badge / certificate for progressing to the next stage. Well done to her and she was very excited by this. However, when we got to reception and i asked for this, i was told I'm unable to receive this due to me not having a phone with me. Apparently i needed to show the email i received (the recent one explaining my daughter has progressed to the next stage and to head to reception to collect her badge & certificate) - i may add nothing was mentioned in this email to bring a copy of the email.

I did have on me though, my daughters membership card, and mine also, along with my driving licence and bank account information. But none of this seemed OK, I do not understand the logic here. Another issue is that without a phone, i'm guessing i'll have to print the email and take this in? I'm hoping i can charge for the paper i will need to get and use for this? we are supposed to be saving paper.....???

Another point to add, seems its a chance of luck if you have to pay 20p for a token for the swimming lockers - I've seen several people ask and be given them without payment - I've asked and i'm charged, - i'm guessing its not me, just the staff not actually knowing. I think the staff need training and briefed on what the policies are.

On a positive note, all the staff seem very pleasant and the coaching for the youngsters looks very good. I certainly recommend sending a child there for swimming classes, you just need to be very patient and sympathetic to some odd and inconsistent...

I have been a regular user of the badminton facilities for the last few months, in more recent times experiencing a peculiar process when arriving and looking to play. When arriving at swallows to play badminton expect for your court to not be set up and for an assortment of gymnastic and sports equipment to be in place of your court. The staff when raising this issue are nothing short of incompetent, almost perturbed when raising a perfectly genuine issue to them that the court you have paid for is not set up. Whilst watching 3 members of staff then try to stretch a football net over the stands is entertaining it highlights the inept capabilities of not only the simple booking system but the staff in being able to set up a functioning badminton court. In the most recent experience before my now last.. we were given a session for free as a gesture of good will due to the un-organisation of the last session. When turning up for this session you’d think that it would be perfectly organised due to the prior service we received however this is when the confusion arose between the fact we had booked badminton and not indoor football. After being told by the manager we could still play badminton with the court they constructed, I expect to see him on the basketball court for a game of tennis. Unfortunately due to this, I will not...

After being closed for more than 6 months you’d think the pool and changing facilities would be clean but the pool floor is filthy, both the public and private changing areas are filthy, my partner and I had the misfortune of stepping on several nail clippings in one changing room. Some of the reception staff are good but unfortunately there are two that are next to useless and have provided incorrect information over the phone relating to the timings of lane swimming resulting in my partner and I coming in only to be turned away. The walkway and walls alongside the main pool are thick with dust, leftover from the building works. The toilets in the men’s private changing area are boarded up. In addition, you can no longer get a parking refund from reception which is apparently a council decision but this still adds to the frustration. The centre has wasted money refurbishing the reception area so that cosmetically it looks a little better than before, the money would have been better spent on a cleaner to keep the place free of nail clippings and...