Nile Swim Club — Restaurant in Yeadon

I really hope Nile staff reads this:

To be honest it only got 3 stars because I’m trying to support a black-owned business. I’ve been trying to support them for the past 6 years since I found out about the place, but it’s getting harder and harder.

I love the Nile and it pains me to write this review! However they need to know what needs to change so they can continue to thrive and not get closed down.

I live in chestnut hill (19118) and drive 40 minutes to come to this pool and I don’t know how many more times I’ll be coming here. I’m not sure it’s worth the drive. Here’s why:

There’s consistently not enough life guards to have the deep end open where the diving board is (the only reason I initially started driving 40min away was bc no pools near me went beyond 5ft and I kept coming because they are black owned). I am not a member so i pay $15 each time and typically end up swimming in the deep end for 20 minutes (with other people mind you!) and at some point being told it’s closed. After I paid.

The cost of membership is too high, so is the daily rate ($15). A daily rate of $10 is more reasonable. Most pools are $6-8. Membership is $175 for a single person for a summer. Since I live 40 minutes away and can’t come more than 10 times in a summer, it’s just not worth it to get a membership. A membership of $100 would be reasonable even. I live in chestnut hill and the neighborhood membership here is 100 not $175!

You don’t get what you Pay for.

Food consists of freezer pizzas and hotdogs, cold fries w a little cheese sprinkled on top barely melted, and some other things. All of it is overpriced considering it’s just stuff you pull out your freezer at home.

As far as facilities, the chairs and tables don’t look like they’re cleaned or ever replaced. The diving board needs constant attention. The bathroom is sub-par (your feet get wet when you wash your hands).

Sometimes they don’t even let non members in!

I have driven on more than one occasion the 40 minute drive ready to pay my $15 only to be told they are short staffed and only open to members. Are you kidding me? And the last time I was turned away at 6pm on a 99 degree day. You couldn’t let one person in for 2 hours?

Not only do I have to call to be sure they are open to non members first, I gotta call every time to make sure I’ll have access to the WHOLE pool. I’m tired of paying full price and not getting the FULL pool.

Nile,

If your going to charge upscale prices you need to be an upscale venue. Some repairs, new paint, and maybe a real grille/bistro would turn it around a lot.

And what happened to the adult swim parties that started at 9pm?? Add a bar in the picnic area and you guys would be turning people away because of capacity!

I really hope I will return one day. And I hope to see this black owned historic swim club thrive and do better.

Sincerely,

Long...

What sad about some of these reviews is the lack of support and understanding how business goes, especially when it comes to black owned businesses(who, unlike other establishments that are run by other folk, usually get ZERO funding). Some mentioned the price being “expensive”.. funny how we as a people NEVER argue price when we go to the nail salon, Dominican Salon, beauty supply store, theme parks, etc... knowing tht we are getting charged up, but will visit them weekly with no problem. And they do nothing for our community. The Nile is a gem or at least should be to us negroes, instead, we’re quick to publicly shoot it down. Shame on you all who have done so. If you’re gonna complain, contribute your expertise properly to make it better.. It’s like this- It’s all about principle. You wouldn’t dare fuss or leave a bad review for the Asians, Hispanics or Caucasians who you know couldn’t care any less about you, they just want yoir $. You say you want to support black-owned but your actions say something different. The Nile is clean and functional. The pool is nice and it’s all OWNED BY Blacks.. eat before you come, you’ll be ok. Or if you don’t like it, just keep it moving &...

Watching about wonderful program to teach black children how to overcome generations of fear arising from lack of access: frightening to hear young swimmer state she will be able to go in water to save a child who slips into a pool—-in lifeguard certification taught going in the water is a last resort. Hope instructors will teach their young charges about the danger of going in the water to save another. Either teach safe options, such as throwing out a life preserver, or just extending a towel or pole to aid another in trouble, or direct child to get an adult. ABC should edit out this comment, so children do not believe it is appropriate for a new swimmer to go in the water: teach about grabbing a life preserver, or reaching for a pole. Clearly an excellent program, and interesting to learn blacks are resorting to the same solution as Jews: both groups prohibited from pools, both are making certain children are taught to swim. If it helps, remind your children that the young often have more time under water to be safely resuscitated: getting a guard to help is...