Parkside Pools and Gym Reviews Summary

Facilities

Pros:

• "Good pool facilities. Lots of cubicles for changing and showering, even a family changing room with toilet."
• "It was clean and tidy, friendly staff."
• "Pool cleanliness- super filtration system. Water quality excellent."
• "Pretty good changing area. Adequate bike parking; car parking is expensive."
• "2 BIG pools... Deep pool for medium to advanced SWIMMERS, different lanes for different abilities."
• "Fun flumes. Kiddie pool. Diving boards."
• "The main pool is pretty spectacular, especially on sunny days when it is flooded with natural light."

Cons:

• "Looks like it's not been maintained since reopening over 20 years ago, so scruffy and not especially clean."
• "The changing room facilities were fine except for the floors were quite untidy, with old wrist bands, nappies etc."
• "The Car Park entrances where the lifts are are absolutely disgusting- smelling of urine!"
• "TODDLER POOL NOT SAFE FOR BABIES AND SMALL CHILDREN."
• "The kids' swimming pool is often around 90cm deep, so smaller kids may be relegated to the toddler pool which is more for paddling."
• "Changing room and shower stinks and dirty."
• "The changing facilities are dire though."

Staff and Service

Pros:

• "Staff- helpful, friendly."
• "We were really pleased with the service we received on our visit."
• "The staff today managing the parents were excellent and so polite and helpful."
• "All the staff are really good and the cafe etc."
• "Good gym, the staff (in the gym itself) are friendly and helpful."
• "I'm a new member of Better Gyms and I have to say I'm impressed."
• "I am currently learning to swim, and the instructors a very good at what they do."

Cons:

• "Really poor organisation, I can't register online for some reason, which I need to book activity online. Both staff at premises and online support absolutely useless."
• "Rude passive-aggressive staff, heard them laughing that people who had come to swim with their children were getting charged to park when the pool was closed to the public."
• "It was very rude and uncomfortable when five or six coaches shouting at a person who went into the pool because the life guard she asked told her she could use the lane."
• "I want to complain against this gym, or some of the supervisors at least: Megan, Jay Booth, and then Steven Rayment too for he knew about this issue and was quite rude and far from compassionate."
• "The reception staff seem unhelpful and disengaged, as if you've interrupted their Instagram browsing."
• "The lifeguard was very very rude."
• "Reception is always lovely."

Accessibility and Convenience

Pros:

• "Lots of bus stops nearby within a 5 minute walk serving long distance and local buses."
• "This is in the middle of Cambridge city centre so easily accessible to city centre shops and eateries - about 5 to 10 minutes' walk."
• "Queen Anne carpark right next to it, with hundreds of spaces, so very easy to find parking even on weekends."
• "It's quite cheap, at about £1.50 an hour."
• "Easy to book online and check in at the reception at given time."
• "Disabled friendly. Hoist on request."
• "There are many activities to book online (which is free with monthly membership) but it can be hard sometimes to get a spot due to the popularity."

Cons:

• "Parking is a pain as well so will not return."
• "Trying to book swimming, don't want to down load app, website won't allow me to book and telephone number does not have a facility to speak to a human to book."
• "The booking app is also hard to use and tried to charge her £10 to book a session which usually costs just over £3."
• "Whatever you do. Don't organise a children's party with the parkside pool. They are disorganised and impossible (IMPOSSIBLE!) to get hold of."
• "Only complaint is the inability to call and speak with anyone. Phone's prerecorded message only."
• "Booking online card machine not working. Paying over the phone does not work."
• "Terrible booking system, was almost unusable during the pandemic, now slightly improved but still horrible."

Value and Pricing

Pros:

• "Good value gym, free weight selection is a bit lacking."
• "Overall the value is ok if you pay students' fee and if you plan to go there quite often."
• "The cafe was decent, good portions, not awfully prices and it was very clean."
• "A hot drink will cost about £1.60 to £2. Plates of hot food about £4."
• "Nice cafe that sells quite affordable meal and drink options."
• "In my opinion, it's the Greatest swimming pool in all of Cambridgeshire, great cafe, great pool, excellently reliable staff, great sports centre, great flumes."
• "It wasn't awfully priced £5 adult and £3 a child. The thing I hate I you only get 1 hour."

Cons:

• "Overpriced and ridiculously short swimming sessions."
• "Absurd policy of applying fines (3£) if you don't attend at scheduled group activity."
• "The adult pool is predominantly used by adults (90%), leaving only 10% for toddlers."
• "Good changing areas and a cold pool, the flumes were quite dirty and rusty, which could do with some repairs, the whole place could do with a clean up."
• "My kids like to swim here... (and I personally think that the price is a bit expensive as a pay as you go)."
• "I used to love this gym, but now it's awfully full and they can't stop bringing more people in."
• "In general, it leaves a negative impression, but the cost aligns with the quality received. You pay less, you get less."