Overview

This venue has was fantastic from the moment you get in the car park. with a good amount of accessible parking as close to the front door as possible you go up a ramped area that takes you to the automatic front door entrance. Once inside everywhere you go there is so much space. From the moment I reached the reception desk, every member of staff was very helpful. The gym was big with plenty space to move around with the wheelchair. When you become a member, the membership entitles you to have a personalised programme drawn up for your specific needs, and what I find most appealing as a disabled person trying to get fit is you can actually book a time with one of the qualified fitness instructors where they will be with you the whole time to keep you on track and help you with any of the equipment. There was a good amount of equipment that could be used by wheelchair users. There was also an open space where you had plenty of space away from the equipment where you could have adapted excercises if preferred. The accessible toilet/changing area was a very good size. Inside the gym room There is an enclosed platform lift that takes you down to the pool area. There are good sized accessible changing cubicles in every second row of changing rooms (8 rows of changing cubicles in total?) there is two pools, the main Olympic sized (50m) pool and a smaller (probably 25m), shallower pool that is heated to a few degrees warmer than the Olympic pool. This again has accessible changing area which is huge and has ceiling track hoist and changing bed as well as shower and toilet facilities. From what I’ve seen, the one thing they’ve missed out on is getting an accessible lift to the diving boards :-D The cafe area is a good sized space with plenty space to move around. There is also good sized accessible toilets next to the cafe. The staff are excellent with everyone I encountered so helpful and friendly. A special mention must go to Abby Neish who showed us around and nothing was too much trouble and had all the answers to all the questions.

Transport & Parking

Plenty of accessible parking next to the main entrance and a good bus service that stops almost at the door.

Access

Very large open space with very few doors to negotiate. The gym area is spacious with a good amount of equipment suitable for wheelchair users with instructors on hand to help out if needed. Good sized accessible changing facilities both in the gym and at poolside. On poolside the changing facilities are only a few metres away from the pool. Each of the pools have a hoist if required to allow wheelchair users access to the pool. The cafe area has plenty of space for moving around.

Toilets

There are a good amount of accessible toilets everywhere you are at the venue. They are a good size and a particularly big space in the accessible changing area beside the smaller pool. This toilet has ceiling track hoist and changing bed.

Staff

Can’t speak highly enough about the attitude, friendliness, helpfulness of the staff!!

Photos