BETTER Gosling Sports Park — Attraction in Welwyn Hatfield

TA Mixed Bag at Gosling Sports Centre in Welwyn Garden City

Rating: ★★★☆☆

My recent experience at Gosling Sports Centre in Welwyn Garden City left me with a mixture of positive and negative impressions. While the facility offers a range of amenities and activities, there were certain issues that detracted from an otherwise enjoyable visit.

One major concern was the filming that took place in the spa area. It seems that the spa area is frequently used for filming by some, causing discomfort among other guests. This intrusion compromised the relaxing atmosphere that one would expect in a spa.

Another recurring issue I observed was the misuse of disabled parking bays. It was disheartening to witness non-eligible customers, as well as site contractors, utilising these designated spaces, leaving those who genuinely require them struggling to find accessible parking. This not only showed a lack of enforcement and monitoring but also displayed a disregard for the needs of disabled individuals. It is imperative that Gosling Sports Centre takes immediate action to ensure that these bays are reserved exclusively for those who genuinely require them.

On a more positive note, the range of activities available at the sports centre is commendable. From the well-equipped gym to the swimming pool and tennis courts, there are plenty of options for fitness enthusiasts. The staff members were generally helpful and friendly, and the overall cleanliness of the facility was satisfactory.

While Gosling Sports Centre has several positive aspects, the issues I encountered during my visit cannot be overlooked. Filming in the spa area and the misuse of disabled parking bays are significant concerns that need to be addressed promptly. By taking corrective measures and improving the overall customer experience, Gosling Sports Centre has the potential to become a truly outstanding recreational facility in Welwyn...

We went to Better Extreme for a children's birthday party. The party seemed well organized, each child was given a pair of the required special socks and as a group we were all led to the video room for the safety instructions. The video was pretty simple and clear but there was no-one making sure that people were watching (in particularly parents of young children who might not be able to understand it) or had a clear view as seating was limited and the room very crowded.

After the video every is given entry to the trampoline park at once, clearly regulars scramble for their favourite areas which is a bit chaotic, but settles down fairly quickly. Parents were allowed into the park to supervise the children.

The park appears to be staffed almost exclusively by bored teenagers who would much rather be gossiping about a mutual friend/ colleague than supervising activities or making sure people are safe.

On the whole people seemed to behave appropriately without the need for guidance from staff but I would question what action any of the staff would actually take if they noticed someone doing something dangerous.

After the one hour play session the children were guided back to the party room where food and drink was served. This was quite efficient and each child received their pre-ordered meal. I would have liked to see a healthier food option than pizza, hot dogs, chicken nuggets and fish fingers, all served with chips, and better availability of water. It would have been nice if parents were offered water, or even a cup of coffee.

Both the park and the party room were very hot, there is no air conditioning, it's also not easy to access toilets or get fresh water.

Overall my daughter enjoyed the party and there were no incidents, but there is room for improvement before I could give it a better score...

We were looking for a new venue to try some trampolining and soft play. Two adults and two kids aged 3 and 4 years. I was absolutely flabbergasted to learn that the cost for 1 hour of trampolining and 1 hour of soft play (for 2 adults and 2 kids) was coming to £72.80. Yes you read that right, £72.80 for 2 hours of fun in Welwyn Garden City. Screenshot attached for proof. (I had to zoom out to show all items in the basket totalling £72.80 hence the smaller text).

I thought it might've been a mistake so phoned the centre and was told that the ratio is ONE adult to ONE child under 5 years. I asked how that would work for a single parent with more than one child and was told that they would need to find a 2nd full price paying adult to cover the 2nd child OR wait until one of the children turns 5 years old as the ratios change slightly. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I was told it is a 'safety measure' but no other trampolining venues have this 1 to 1 ratio. It's clearly a way to gain more money from the local community.

'Better' is supposed to be a 'community' place and I thought the prices were usually somewhat subsidised but clearly not. These prices make Central London look cheap!

Of course, we chose not to visit this site. Instead we went to Better in Hatfield and had a great day for half the price quoted above.

Trampolining prices for 1 hour at Gosling Sports Park, WGC £12.95 adult (allowed to bring ONE child age 5 years or under) £12.95 child No spectator option Plus the cost of the Better brand...