Placesleisure Reviews 

Tooting Bec Lido 29/07/26. First time visiting, pleasantly surprised at the facilities on offer. Nice on a hot day. Appeared clean. However really disappointed by a different element of our visit to Tooting Bec Lido.

On arrival, the security guard was engaged in a lengthy conversation while people were waiting and security checks were inconsistent. When I asked whether this was the check-in point, his response was dismissive.

Later, while enjoying the children’s pool with our young child, we were the only group approached and told to reduce from two adults to one child because it was “getting busy” despite the pool actually being quieter than when we’d arrived(6 adults compared to 15 when we later returned ). We complied without complaint and went to the big pool.

What made it worse was returning later to find the children’s pool significantly busier, with two different groups clearly having 2 adults accompanying one child, yet nobody else was challenged. We also re-entered as the same group of three after the lifeguard changeover and no one raised any issue.

I have no problem with rules being enforced. I do have a problem when they appear to be enforced selectively. The inconsistency left us feeling singled out and completely overshadowed what should have been an enjoyable family day out.

The booking system is unnecessarily rigid and I was made to feel like a criminal for asking to move a badminton court booking...

I telephoned the Camberley centre over five hours prior to the start of a badminton session. I explained that we had meant to book the court an hour earlier and asked if the booking could be shifted. The polite young lad said he needed to check with the manager and was gone for what seemed to be several minutes.

When he returned to the phone, he sounded a little embarrassed to say "no" and cited their terms and conditions "there can be no cancellation or transfers of bookings" (no doubt under instruction from the manager). There were four courts available for the hour earlier, and I found it bizarre that their system (apparently) disallows staff to alter a booking. He did offer to cancel and re-book, but said I would not get a refund for the cancelled session and would need to pay again for the new session! Hmm.

I asked to speak with the manager, with whom I explored the possibility of turning up an hour early; and if a court was available, just playing an hour early. To me, this seemed like a simple workaround. But the manager seemed uneasy and said it would have to be considered by 'the manager' who wasn't due to start for another 15 minutes or so. Since the person with whom I was speaking was also working the evening shift, I was surprised they didn't offer to have a chat with 'the manager' and get back to me. Instead, we left it that I would call again nearer the time.

About 45 minutes prior to (the hour earlier) session, I called the centre three times but my calls were not answered. Since there were still four courts showing available on the app, I thought we should just turn up and there wouldn't be an issue... Or so I thought!!

The 'manager' I spoke to on the phone was on the front desk and seemingly irritated I had just turned up, and questioned why I hadn't called ahead. I explained I had but no body had answered. They went off into the back office to find 'the manager' and were probably gone for 5-10 minutes. It was curious that the other member of staff on the front-desk also disappeared into the back office and I got the impression they were debating the situation. This is pure speculation of course, but I was feeling guilty as a queue formed.

By the time the 'manager' (and other member of staff re-appeared), we were five minutes into the (earlier) session, for which there were still four courts available.

The 'manager' looked serious and said to me words to the effect "we wouldn't normally do this, but as a one-off, we will let you play earlier - but you will have to wait for a net to be setup which might take a while." Hmm. They were clearly very reluctant to be helpful and made me feel like I was asking far too much.

When we went upstairs to the sports hall to wait, guess what we found? One half of the sports hall (four courts) was completely void of people. What's more, three of the four courts already had badminton nets set up!! To be very clear, there were three badminton courts set up and ready to use, but for which had no bookings for that hour. I was more than a little frustrated at this point. I honestly couldn't understand why the management were making such a big deal out of the situation.

When nothing goes wrong, you will find the Camberley centre perfectly fine. The staff all smile and are usually very helpful. But when you need something slightly out of the norm, there seems to be no common-sense and the management would rather quote the T&C's than be helpful.

Horrible front desk staff having a go at my friend and then blocked her gym membership card

They run Putney Leisure centre. Staff are really nice. Hence the extra star. The corporate entity totally out of touch. Last month they sent an email saying they were shutting the pool for at least 6 months to shorten it from 33m to 25m. Where's the sense in that. No consultation with the swimmers. Wanted to spend £9.5m !!!!
Thankfully we all objected and the council put a hold on their plans

The swip card gate system did not work again. There was a queue so I gave up. Not very good experience at all.

No facility for my 12 years old daughter to go swimming with her friends on the first day of their summer holidays due to grumpy lane swimmers and lessons!!God forbid kids wanting to have active fun ! on well back to their phones then !

Camberley, duty manager has no idea how to deal with people with hidden disabilities.

Whoever Manages the Fairfield Site at Dartford needs removing. It is quite obvious by so many un-helpful, miserable Staff that there are internal Issues going on. Also, despite receiving 3 confirmation emails of our Booking, there was no Barcode included. The Lady on Reception asked for the Surname and when given replied "so thats 4 Adults" to which I responded " no, two Adults and one Child". The wait time to be seen at the Desk is unacceptable as is the general attitude of those doing the job - or should that be not. Given the amount of negative reviews this place gets you think someone, somewhere would wake up.

I just wanted to commend the young male lifeguard on duty in the middle pool at Felixstowe Leisure Centre on Saturday 11th July 2026 @ around 1.25 for his swift rescue of a small boy whom was only a couple of metres from his parents/carers that had their backs to him. I will admit I have, in the past, been one to wonder how these young lifeguards would actually react to a life or death situation such as that that I witnessed, but that thought has been well and truly refuted and I take my hat off to him. Very well done Sir for your super quick reflex, you did amazing!

This leisure center is horrible . It is overpriced for what it is is and the gym is even worse terrible equipment barely usable and there is not enough machines for everyone so you have to wait 10 minutes to get a machine . Good luck as well if you are under 16 there are so many restrictions to go and you have to constantly check to book within 5 minutes or it is all taken so you can’t go and it is not enough time to do a high quality session with you getting banned if you miss 3 sessions or being 15 minutes late which is a week ban and doubles each time which you still have to pay for which is unreasonable and there was no communication apart from a sign saying about this policy so I would just lie and say your over 16 and go to a better gym which will be cheaper and better quality for you . Overall the gym is horrible and I feel bad if you go there

I attended Places Leisure Camberley on the 4th of July for a scheduled swim session, only to find out upon arrival that it had been cancelled. Ruined the kid's day.
What makes it worse is that I received no prior warning whatsoever. The centre has all my contact details on file, yet failed to send a simple email or text to let me know before I travelled all the way there. It is highly frustrating and incredibly poorly managed. Places Leisure needs to improve its notification system immediately so customers don't waste their time and travel expenses for nothing. Ruined my day.

Reviewing Sparkhill Pool & Fitness:
Rude, unprofessional, incompetent guy on reception named Hasan. Clearly got no common sense he cannot do basic tasks without help. Waited nearly 1 hour just to get checked in to use the gym the guy looked like he been dragged out of bed.

Last minute cancellation without any notice nor accountability while customers are penalised for no shows.
The session starts 5:15pm, I walked in at 5:10pm, only to be told the session was cancelled due to a lack of lifeguard.
The kids were upset about the situation, an unhelpful staff Abi, who showed no willingness to help simply wrote an email address and told me to submit a complaint, which left us(2 kids and 2 adults) feeling upset that our concerns were being dismissed rather than genuinely addressed.

Have tried to determine pay as go pricing for the facilities on the Camberley website and it’s impossible to find. All it wants to show are expensive memberships. And no one picks up the phone when you call enquiries.

They don’t seem to care even a little bit about low income people.

I’m disabled and signed off work and my physiotherapist says I need to be
Swimming to get my muscles stronger.

This month I made a mistake and shifted too much money to another bank account, so when they tried to take out the money for this month, it wasn’t there.

And instead of talking to me about it,
They added an additional £20 which I don’t have.

I haven’t gone swimming yet due to me needing to deal with my housing, but my
Experience so far has been absolutely awful and if I could get out of this contract I would.

Don’t go
Here if you’re low income

Max at Places Leisure, Latchmere is an amazingly swimming coach, he is patient and very understanding. My son was terrified of the deep end and he made him feel so at ease.

Their Dartford branch has the rudest, grumpiest front desk staff I've ever come across, of any establishment. They clearly hate their job very much, as well as everyone who ever dares speak to them. I was point blank ignored at the entrance for a good few minutes, and I was going to be late for a class. I signalled at the lady behind the counter, and I thought she lady pointed towards the gates to buzz me through. Turns out she didn't and the gate didn't open, so she puts down the phone, raises her voice and tells me "don't push through the gate, that's just RIDICULOUS". Well, good afternoon to you too, thanks for the help. Stuff like this happens all the time with them, there's just a culture of being rude and unnecessarily aggressive to their clients, like you're bothering them for being there. I'm definitely moving my daughter to a different gym next month, with my goodbies and good riddance. Literally ANYWHERE else would be better than this place for your kids.

A waste of time. The manager is not interested in doing his job. I came on two buses just to find out the swimming pool was full. I rang several times they didn’t bother to pick up, just too damn lazy. I can’t recommend this place. They just waste your time.

I have tried calling this number 01902384777 and 01902968900 around 20times over the last hour and no one has answered.only I wanted to check if there is a swimming gala today.I understand you are busy but it’s disappointing when there’s no communication and calls go unanswered.

Avina organised the entry of our young, supported adult group and 2 support workers today. We all work with IT systems and in all honesty, the Places Leisure system is a little cumbersome, resulting in a little wait for group bookings. This is not a complaint and both Avina, and another colleague have actively supported me to make this work. Furthermore, we have made regular trips to swim with individuals and groups and also had gym sessions with our groups of young adults. From the greeting at the front desk to the support and encouragement they give during sessions, the team create a warm and welcoming environment. I would also say their approach to people that need support is just right; they are engaged and instinctively adaptive, which is impressive. I have no hesitation in saying Carnival Pool and gym is an inclusive centre and I am proud to be able to use and tell people about this brilliant, home-town facility. Thanks Everyone.