Waddon Leisure Centre Reviews Summary

Facilities

Pros:

• "Good level floor access to gym, changing room and swimming pool."
• "The pool is the best in Croydon, clean, free hairdryer, water well maintained and good temperature."
• "It's a big leisure centre, bigger than I was expecting - fitness studio, spinning studio, a gym, the pool and viewing gallery, a sports hall and a kids play area with a cafe too."
• "Modern, clean leisure centre with a good swimming pool, and child's pool."
• "Well maintained centre with friendly staff and clean environment."
• "Good facilities, nice and clean gym, swimming and other activities available."
• "They have a large pool and a tiny pool for little ones too approx 1 ft deep."

Cons:

• "All the edges around the pool, base of poles etc need jet washing."
• "Generally the facilities are clean, although the swimming pool showers are clearly not cleaned thoroughly (I've seen the same plaster on the shower wall for around 3 days!)."
• "The pool looks like a public beach, and majority is occupied by people who are not swimming, or playing with inflatable balls."
• "The soft-play area is good but not quite worth the admission fee charged."
• "Most of the glass surfaces are covered with sticky finger prints."
• "The changing areas can be a bit on the dirty side sometimes."
• "Things breaking and not being fixed."

Staff and Customer Service

Pros:

• "Staff were particularly helpful and seemed pleased to be working there."
• "Staff are really friendly and accommodating."
• "Most staff are really friendly and pleasant."
• "The staff are friendly and approachable."
• "The staff were friendly, professional and welcoming."
• "There were lots of staff around to assist."
• "The trainers in the gym are very friendly, approachable and at hand."

Cons:

• "Poor leadership and need a revamp in many of the younger staff."
• "Unfortunately even with the management change the old reception staff are still in post and of course their customer service and general attitude is awful."
• "Terrible customer service! Rude front desk specially the lady named Natasha."
• "2 males receptionists are very rude!"
• "The front of house staff could be a bit more attentive and communicative."
• "The staff here are so rude."
• "Rude, not trained staff!"

Value and Pricing

Pros:

• "Parking outside 70p per hour or free in Morrisons carpark 5 mins walk away."
• "Great value leisure centre, I have no idea why it's not more popular at c£30 a month for so many sports and classes."
• "Prices here are very good. It costs less than £10 for an adult and child swim."
• "The parking is heavily subsidised for electric and hybrid vehicles up to 90% off."
• "The car parking takes coins and card and is quite cheap £1.50 or so for a couple of hours, if you want free parking then a few streets walk away there is on street parking available."

Cons:

• "Membership has gone up to £36."
• "Way overpriced for merchandise, seems items you get for £1 cost a £10 in here."
• "Like everything these days, feels like you're paying more for less."
• "The cost of a day pass has gone from £6 to £10 per day."
• "Parking could be cheaper or free, would be nice!"
• "They no longer give you any free guest passes."
• "It's very small, car parking is very limited and cost another membership if not more."

Swimming Pool

Pros:

• "The swimming pool is large are sports and activities rooms."
• "Pool is great and there are courses for children and adults on Saturday morning and some evening's."
• "Swimming pool is clean."
• "The membership lets you use the swimming facilities on the weekend too."
• "Swimming pool was fairly empty, lots of fun for the family."
• "Convenient to get to and clean pool and changing facilities (compared to some other Better centers)."

Cons:

• "The swimming pool is ok compare to others I have been unfortunately the staff on the front is always rude and avoid to help you."
• "If you go with a child under 8 you are forced to stay in a small section of the pool behind a red line even if they can swim!"
• "I strongly advice to avoid the children swimming lessons at this place."
• "The facilities are good but the organisation and management of swimming lessons are awful."
• "Children cannot get joy, because everything is either closed or lessons."

Hygiene and Cleanliness

Pros:

• "Pleasant clean gym area, lots of sanitizer and paper roll to keep the exercise equipment covid free."
• "Very nice and clean modern leisure centre, excellent facilities, the gym is good size has everything you need and lots of machine."
• "Wow! What an amazing leisure centre. Very clean and tidy."
• "We booked soft play here and were really impressed. It was great value for money, well kept and clean."

Cons:

• "No one picks up Phone!!"
• "Absolutely terrible place, my boys went there last Sunday as most of the Sundays and they where told the swimming pool is closed..."
• "Just overall a very embarrassing experience."
• "Unfortunately even with the management change the old reception staff are still in post and of course their customer service and general attitude is awful."
• "It feels like it's suffering a lack of investment and care about the place."
• "If you like clean facilities, then Waddon leisure centre isn’t for you! This bathroom has not been cleaned for WEEKS."
• "The place is filthy. All the drains in the changing rooms are clogged up with hair."