Splashpoint Leisure Centre — Attraction in Worthing

Visited when covid restrictions were in place.

We aren't local and I couldn't find the family swim times on the website easily so I phoned the centre (which took a while to get through) to ask when booking was available, they were very helpful answering my questions. Then I rang at 8am on the morning before we wanted to visit, as advised by the receptionist. The mornings sessions had gone so the earliest time available was 12pm. I assume members have earlier access to bookings than non - members

When we arrived there was a notice on the car park sign stating the was free parking for leisure centre users. We followed the instructions and entered our registration details inside the reception area (on the left inside the main door).

We had our booking ready to show on our phone (which we didn't need to show) and queued socially distancing. A member of staff with a clipboard and bands asked for our surname outside of the building (it was a dry day). We were given a plastic /paper band to wear for our session (including the kids - which was pointless as they just pulled them off!).

Entering the pool we had to touch doors and there was no antibacterial available so it didn't feel as covid safe as shops.

Inside swimmers didn't need masks once in swim wear but we're wearing them when dressed before and after. There was a member of staff by the disabled toilet /hairdryers checking shoes were being removed and masks worn, who helpfully answered our questions.

The changing rooms seemed fairly clean but we didn't see anyone cleaning during our visit.

We arrived on time but the session felt too short for us but the kids (2&4yrs) loved the small toddler slides, sprays and bubbles and the depth of the family pool. There were a few families in the pool but we were just about able to socially distance the whole time we were in the pool.

It was a shame we weren't able to use any shampoo /showergel after swimming and that there were only a few showers for everyone to use (they need more), which meant we had to wait when we exited the pool.

Overall the kids loved going and hopefully the sessions will be longer and showers available once covid...

This is primarily a pool for kids. If you want to go for an actual swim for your fitness during school holidays, weekends and outside normal office hours, forget it.

South Downs Leisure will proudly boast that there is more pool area. However, the main pool is half the size of the main pool in the former Worthing swimming centre, Aquarena, yet the amount of space that is used for kiddie funtime remains the same. That leaves only about 5x25m space for actual swimming, as opposed to the minimum of 5x50m of space available even when the diving and float time were coinciding in the Aquarena (and the small kids pool in the Aquarena was also more suitable for adult swimming too if you wanted so that's an extra 25m at least). As grubby and ugly as the Aquarena was, at least you could have a good swim whatever time and day it was.

Other than that, the pool is definitely great for kids, though the slide doesn't appear to be an improvement on the one in the Aquarena; this pool is also much better-looking than the Aquarena. Just don't bother calling it a swimming pool unless you take swimming classes (that's their way of grabbing more money from us). They're all recreational pools. One diving pool, one splishy-splashy shallow pool, and one main pool that, as before mentioned, is still mostly reserved for kiddie funtime.

Update after using gym: I enjoy the gym and fitness classes but they don't make up for the decrease in quality of the actual pool, so I'll leave it at 2 stars thanks. At least rename it to a non-swimming-related name because the pools are NOT the best part of the fitness centre.

TL;DR good gym, great classes, good pool for kids, not so good for working adults who want to actually swim unless you're willing to pay an...

Haven't been swimming for a number of years but I have recently had to have a Hernia operation that needed a larger incision than normal (5" scar). So Swimming & a Sauna is a massive part of my rehab & later on some Gym work will also be a benefit. Swimming, Sauna & Gym, all in one handy place at Worthing Splashpoint Leisure Centre!

Wonderful new building with three separate area's for Swimming. 1 fun family friendly pool with a waterside & other fun stuff, 2 a Lanes pool unfortunately not Olympic Length but plenty long enough to make me feel that only 10 lengths was plenty long enough in my current condition, 3 diving pool that makes me wish for years gone by.

All the pools are very well attended by multiple Lifeguards, who were all very attentive & switched on. I could see that each of the Lifeguards had their duty posts rotated at good short intervals which is very reassuring & shows they really know what they are doing.

The Sauna is off away from the family pool & is Heavenly & a real treat. I haven't seen the Gym yet that's aways down the road for me at the moment.

I can't say that the website you'll be directed to is great, it's not. The two bookings I've made so far went wrong.

What is great is the staff at the reception desk, incredibly helpful & managed to sort out the kinks with my bookings with ease. A super helpful lady Joe really helped.

I will be popping along to see Louisa, a member of the Splashpoint membership team to discuss my best membership options.

While I've only been there twice since my operation I know that the Swimming & Sauna have really helped, easier to move & less...