New Barnet Leisure Centre

Negative experience: expensive activities , poor waiting area ,

Fantastic experience: Good leisure centre. Nice learner pool

Fantastic experience: I was so impressed with Pierre Henry-Fontaine, a Personal Trainer, whilst watching him coaching at the New Barnet leisure centre gym that I decided I would engage him for my 13 year old son who was having problems with his knee when playing football. The first thing I noticed was his altruism, that he was a lovely man with tremendous knowledge and that he coached people of all ages. I was particularly impressed with the way he has helped people affected by strokes, their progress under Pierre’s tutelage is nothing short of remarkable. Pierre genuinely wants to help people first and foremost and I wanted someone with his expertise, who played sport at a high level from a young age and understood injuries in competitive sports related to growth spurts in teenagers. It was also important that this person had excellent pastoral care and could also be a role model for my son. Pierre ticked all the boxes. My sons knee? After about 4 sessions with work being done at home he managed a full game last weekend after being unable to play for five weeks.

Fantastic experience: Lovely and clean! Only downside is that classes and pool can be quite crowded. Can’t tell if that’s down to people just showing up without booking or the actual set capacity.

Negative experience: IF YOU WANT TO THROW THE MONEY IN BIN YOU CAN GO THERE . Very Rude , disrespectful, discrimination you can have all in a package. If you kid has any difficulty in communicating or learning they are horrible the don’t understand the situation. Very bad experience , unfriendly .It looks like some people has hire them without they will.I’ve register my son (autisem ) but he is very good in following the instrucion sometime you have to give him time .He has done 2 lessons . First lesson was ok .Even that was first time not a word of welcome or presention with me or the child. The swiming stuff the goes around the swiming pole Julie very rude not a smile, with a angry face all the time as she is the owns the place . Second lesseon come a little bit early 10 min. My son want to go ,i managed to hold him for 5 min , 2-3 min befor he goes in . I apologias to the teacher . Then comes Julie making a drama i did apologiose to here as well. The teacher has grab my son to put on the line with the other and son didnt like it and he has been angry .I have gone direcly to the Julie and she was with the angry face saying that we can not have him here , he is scratching the teacher .i say he needs an other attitue with him just give him time he is gone to follow here in a min .She was insisted all the time we can’t have him here. My son didnt screach any kid or being aggressive to others .he has been all good all the time . She pretendet that if the teach is going to take him to put in the line with others she will not give attention to other kids , ‘othe kids can have any accidentents ‘ After i learned that she was supposted to check the other kids when the teacher was teaching . All the time during the lesseon some kids come forward some backward and was not problem at all . Only me kid was a problem( he just react in a min that he was froced to be in the line with other kids). The are beginners and need the time to adap dhe need a kind attitute because the are kids the dont think same like a adult . I am more than happy to open the CCTV of the swimming and to have a look of the 2 swimming lesson and to see what has done my son the Julie can not have him in the lesson. I speak with the manager he didnt managed to solve the situation. I will put my sone somewhere else as soon as he finishes the lessons he have to do . Very disappointed pluse they dont have 10 min brake from lesson to lesson. And they make a big deal for 2 min that my son has gone before. They don’t know how to approach with the costumers. I’ve been in very different classes and courses never with this attitude. I have been treated very friendly and understanded by them . Here its like you are taking they’re money not that you’re are given to them

Positive experience: I have been using this Leisure since it opened, I visit the gym with my wife and we have taken our children swimming here over the years my youngest is still having lessons here. The swimming and gym facilities are absolutely fantastic and the teachers are generally very good. However My only complain is regarding the other staff members, the front of house or reception staff - do not greet members, never smile and hardly say a word; when asked a question they are short cold and not overly helpfull at all, they in fact seem like they’re not interest in the member at all and come across as entitled to be there and quite frankly, Rude! The Gym staff never say a word to anyone unless it’s their colleagues or mates that they work with or train with and seem to walk around like they own the place; very old school Gym etiquette. (Times have moved on). I’d strongly suggest you do not let your child go there during the teen sessions as the floor staff offer nothing I terms of offering advise or guidance to the teens on how to use the machines or start their training journey. In a nutshell Great Centre! BUT Poor Staff!

Negative experience: So sad to experience how unfriendly/unwelcoming this site has become. As someone with social anxiety it takes a lot for me to leave the house but I used to love coming to this centre for swimming and yoga. However, last few visits the staff have been so so unwelcoming and downright rude. The lady with the tattoos and red hair on reception really hates her job I feel and it has really put me off as a customer - to the point I stopped going (after spending a long time as a daily customer). Yesterday I attended the inclusive swim with my neice and nephew and she was on the desk - totally WRONG human to have on the desk when there are ND people coming into the building. Horrible, offputting experience which will see me take mine and my family's custom elsewhere!

Negative experience: I would give lower but I can’t put 0 stars

Negative experience: I'm leaving this review to hopefully be used as constructive feedback to improve the overall performance of the children's swim lessons. Facilities/Cafe are all very good no complains My children have been coming swimming for two years and there's been constant complaints from many parents with very little improvement over this period. My first cause of concern is the constant change of staff within lessons which still happens today 2) Overcrowding of lessons which I have seen up to 13 children to one teacher at a time . 3) Children either not being assessed and being left in the same group and this is more likely due to the changeover of staff but its taken just under two years for my children to move up to green group. 4) Some of the teachers spend much of time talking to their colleagues or parents during the swim lessons. 5) Most importantly yes every child is learning there basics to swim across the pool however I have also dip sampled the more advanced swim lessons and quite a few of the children do not seem to be in the correct class and maybe being moved up due to lack of space too. Some children swimming strokes are not using the correct technique and some are still struggling with the basic strokes and length of the pool and they are not being corrected by the teachers. I have said this before more floats need to be used during the swim sessions this helps to strengthen & learn the correct technique. Teachers also need to ask children to get out of the pool or sit on the side and mimic the stroke this helps a child to understand the correct technique. Teachers should encourage children in the water swimming is not a silent sport! I have seen teachers given instructions but no correction or encouragement during the swimming session and if a large class cannot be avoided then at least split the group ie class of 8 children 4 would go first so you make sure they are showing the correct technique and the child is not struggling with the basics and finally if children disrupt the class ask them to sit out of the lesson or give the a different instruction that works talk to the parents keep them updated with progress on the portals. I hope my constructive feedback improves the overall lessons for the near future and to be an outstanding swim school.

Positive experience: Very good gym. Good swimming pool but busy most of the times

Negative experience: Been taking my 5 year old swimming lessons here for quite a while at first they were really good. Now there's to many kids in the pool for the teacher to be able to teach they can't keep the kids concentrated, there never in the water with the children showing them how to do things they just slowly stroll round the side talking to each. It's bit of a disappointment as it started so well and is a nice venue will be taking him out once this banks of lessons is over

Positive experience: Very clean during non peak hours. Went around 12 on a Wednesday, lovely swim. Not too busy.

Fantastic experience: Loved it! Great for kid's parties . Clean and welcoming.

Fantastic experience: Very nice

Fantastic experience: This is a great place to be, offering good classes. It's also a fantastic place to bring your children swimming. Plus, there's a wonderful library (New Barnet Library) in the centre where you can pop in, read books, sign up to be a library member if you aren't a member yet, to borrow books and DVDs, buy books at an extremely cheap cost (it's free and easy to join), and use the computers and the Internet. Don't hesitate to sign up today (both the leisure centre and the library). Miss it, miss out!

Positive experience: This is a lovely local leisure centre with good facilities and a good general level of hygiene. One thing spoils the experience - they often play the radio loudly over the speakers in the swimming pool and changing room, on a disco music channel. Music is everywhere - in restaurants, bars, shops, train stations - and now even in the swimming pool where I come for peace and quiet. No doubt it's partly to entertain the staff but it has a negative effect on me as a customer.

Fantastic experience: Amazing gym, swimming, and lots of classes available. Reasonable price

Fantastic experience: Great facility and great staff.

Positive experience: Great swimming instructors. But make sure you put the blue bags on your feet in the changing rooms or the Gustapo will get you !

Fantastic experience: What a wonderful facility! The density pool is so welcomed as a safe space for babies and children with SEND. However the only request I have is that the changing rooms need to be warmer. They are currently FREEZING!

Negative experience: My child has been going to their swimming lessons for about a 16 months. At the turn of the year, they introduced private lessons, which take place in the same pool and at the same time as the other lessons. It now means there is less space for the kids who are in the group lessons, and they're cramped for space. Last week I counted ten children per class, with a combined width of about 4 metres. That's about 40cm per student. This also means that the teacher doesn't have space to get into the pool and show the kids how to swim. As much as we'd all like them to swim like sardines, they shouldn't be treated like them. When this was brought up by multiple parents to the lesson manager, she essentially told us that if we don't like it, we can leave. It's a new and clean facility, but they prioritise profits over education. Very disappointing.

Positive experience: The facilities for the sports center are great, new and clean. Classes are fine, nothing special. However, I found it quite expensive for a community center. The cafe has a poor choice of food and drink, their coffees are not cheap and aren't good either. This should be a community cafe, but it feels quite sterile instead.

Positive experience: The staff have very good customer care. The facility is family friendly.

Positive experience: It's a good local place for gym.

Fantastic experience: Lovely gym, clean and well kept. Large pool which has lots of changing facilities. Parking onsite. The classes are very busy but very good. There’s a red haired lady on reception that always gives me a boost of encouragement when she sees me - Thank you!

Fantastic experience: Nice pools (a teaching pool and a larger one), a cute little library, a convenient cafe which covers the basics, outside, there's a great playground and another new playground is just about to finish construction. There's gym equipment outside, and a gym inside upstairs but I've never visited it. In general the whole place is well maintained.

Positive experience: Decently equipped gym, but loads of teens that have no idea what they are doing... People use the wrong machines, for the wrong excercises, often (people doing single cable excercises, on the double cable machine, when the single cable machine is completely empty/doing pullups at the square rack when the pullups station is completely free!) The punch bag attracts alot of wannabe "fighters", that again, have no idea. I have even seen people sparring in the matted area, which is very concerning; complete newbies sparring unsupervised! Swimming pool is decent and the gym is usually clean. Decent gym, members let it down....

Fantastic experience: This is our happy place. Kids love coming here for swimming lessons and fun swims. The gym is well equipped and the cafe has fabulous coffee. There is even a library, although it's only open limited hours. We are so fortunate to have this leisure centre on our doorstep.

Positive experience: This is a decent leisure centre within the Better Leisure group. I chiefly use it for swimming and the 25m pool is fine being both clean and not too busy. There's also a training pool for little kids which is a nice touch. The shared changing facilities are large and well maintained so all is good on that front. One downside is that you have to pay for parking unless you're a Better Leisure member and even then you have to register your vehicle in advance. If that's not the case then you'll have to rustle up 50p for the first two hours and an extra £1 for every additional hour. Given that the ticket machine isn't working then you need to use an app or their website to pay on demand.

Fantastic experience: My child has learnt how to swim here. Excellent instructors, lovely pools and well-kept changing rooms.

Fantastic experience: Exceptional premises and very professional staff.

Fantastic experience: I have been using the swimming pool regularly for over a year and I am very satisfied with the services. The staff not only keeps things clean and tidy, but is also friendly and nice, which has a positive impact on the comfort of using the facility.

Fantastic experience: Nice pool. Clean changing rooms

Fantastic experience: Multi activity centre, including a library on site... Suitable for outdoor and indoor interests. Something for the entire family

Fantastic experience: Clean and beatiful facility

Negative experience: As my first time here, I experienced the reception, was very unfriendly, and not really helpful at all. As a disabled person, I received no help or a little smile that did not cost nothing in human life.

Positive experience: Good gym in terms of equipment but most users have absolutely no gym etiquette and staff don’t enforce it.

Fantastic experience: Was good as always, the pool it's lights clear water, and humble stuff

Fantastic experience: Nice staff and clean environment. I went to swim and facilities are very nice. Unfortunately there's only gendered toilets but there are gender neutral showers so much more accessible and pleasant.

Positive experience: I have been coming to this Leisure Centre for a while. I have only ever used the gym. It isn't perfect, but it is one of the best gyms in the area. The gym has enough equipment to keep fit and get in good shape. I do wish it was a little bigger and they had more equipment, but I understand that there isn't loads of space. I have also only ever had good and positive experiences at the gym.

Negative experience: Some of the employees are very rude, especially in the sports department, a male employee working today is not professional at all

Fantastic experience: Great facility. Easy booking. Lovely reception staff. Always a smile as you enter. In my experience the Personal Trainers are supportive and really care about improving a persons quality of life. Devising personalised plans. The pools’ changing rooms are clean. With multiple accessible changing facilities for persons with mobility challenges. A nice cafe. And a community library ! 5 stars all the way

Fantastic experience: Excellent facilities and classes. Gym is relaxed and friendly and the pool is a nice temperature but can get a little busy at peek times

Fantastic experience: Really nice and clean all around from the swimming pool area, the bathrooms, gym and classes area. Staff are SOOOOOO friendly and helpful. You always enter the reception area with a staff member behind the desk with a smile and a warm greeting. Parking area is well designed. The booking of areas is very clever to avoid overcrowding. 5 Stars all day long.

Fantastic experience: Very good facilities and service

Negative experience: Great swimming pool facilities, but beware the new car parking rules. I have had to appeal a fine, having the evidence to show I paid for parking. Lots of cars now instead park in the road, impacting local residents. Better outsource this part of their business, so you’ll have to tolerate a poor quality 3rd party phone app (crashes) and poor customer service when dealing with complaints. Note, this would have been a 5 star review for the actual leisure facilities. # take the bus

Fantastic experience: A great place to grab a coffee or a cheeky snack at The Angel Cafe. Lovely and helpful staff. So after a workout at the gym, waiting for kids to finish swimming or just walking around the park, treat yourself at the café

Fantastic experience: Friendly staff and good facilities. Parking is free if you are on a monthly membership. Could do with more classes at lunchtimes, and a shame there is no steam room or hot tub, but I suppose then you have to pay over double at one of the rip off clubs!

Positive experience: Had a great swim there today. Only thing is there needs to be a drinking water tap near the swimming pools please !

Fantastic experience: Friendly and clean public leisure centre.

Fantastic experience: A lovely leisure center by Better! Thank you! My girls love it here

Negative experience: Booking app soo annoying newer got free spases when I need.

Negative experience: Good sports facility terrible parking. Swimming facilities are great and everything is pretty clean. The parking is awful. The Y Pay app is rubbish and very difficult to use often crashing. Arrive 10 minutes early and pay with reception.

Positive experience: It's okay... but they could improve...Things to improve: 1. staff friendliness, should at least engage with the public or show some care. It always look like they are working in a hellish environment. 2. Pool cleaning, the bottom of the pool is filthy even with female tampons. 3. General cleaning of the changing rooms, lockers, toilets and showers. It's currently very poor 4. Better regulation of temperatures (water and spaces).

Negative experience: Gym floor is usually hot like a sauna. Air conditioning needs to be turned on and turned up, before somebody collapses of heat exhaustion / stroke. Equipment is also very limited.

Positive experience: Good gym, it's a mixture of young and old you will never out of place. Good instructors members are friendly. Lots of classe to chose from but, limited on a weekend. I hope they will put a few more classes especially on a Sunday. Parking is good as long you are a member, parking is free of charge. Even if your not a member, £0.50 for 2 hours is very cheap.

Fantastic experience: Good place to keep fit, swimming ‍♂️ today

Fantastic experience: It is new Leisure Center ,my children likes and enjoy here , swimming instructor very experience and place very clean , there is a also small swimming pool for foundation class ,

Positive experience: I didn't get a warm greeting from the receptionist at all, more of a, 'why are you here on my property?' kind of look, which was very unnecessary and off putting. Anyway, I asked a question about where the men's changing room was located as this was my first visit here, and she instantly tried to sell me a padlock! I repeated my request and she then correctly understood. I proceeded inside and continued about my business.

Positive experience: The Gym is good but its always a mess! i go first thing when the gym opens at 6.45 am and the weights are still a mess from the dy before! I dont understand why the staff dont tidy the gym and get it ready for the next day

Fantastic experience: Very nice swimming pool!! For sure my happy place

Negative experience: The gym and pool are nice but don’t waste your time and money on the children’s swimming lessons. Most of the coaches don’t get in the water to properly instruct to the children what they’re supposed to do. If kids aren’t focusing and splashing about they don’t engage with them or encourage them to do the lesson properly. I pulled my child out and are doing lessons elsewhere for the same money and they quality of the coaching is much higher. Was a waste of effort, money and time here

Fantastic experience: Great leisure centre with fantastic pool with greatly reduced chemicals making the water great for swimming. The swimming teachers are very attentive with the children..

Fantastic experience: Modern and well maintained facilities, it's very clear that the staff take care of the place.

Fantastic experience: I am very grateful to the supervisor and the staff of this sports center, every time I go, whether in the morning or in the afternoon, everywhere is clean and tidy. Thank you very much.

Fantastic experience: Walked in the gym this morning and there major cleaning going on. Looks great!! This gym is always so clean. Really enjoy coming here!!

Fantastic experience: I thoroughly enjoyed going here, the changing rooms and swimming pool is clean, the staff friendly and I found the exercise classes really helpful. They also have kids and teenager gym times that helped keep my kids active and busy throughout the summer. You book in for everything on the app which is really convenient as well.

Negative experience: To be honest even 1 star is too much for their children swimming lesson classes. First, I need to tell that they do not teach them any new things ,but they keep them at the same level for so many months and every week they do same exercises again and again. Some of their swimming teachers just talk to the parents all the times and do not check what the children are doing. You can see clearly there are some children in each level who are ready to go to higher level, but they prefer to keep them in same level for so many months to make more money out of their parents packets.

Fantastic experience: Having met Lindsey poolside when I went for a swim she was a bundle of energy and persuaded my girls to move their swimming lessons there. We have not looked back! She has been an incredible swimming teacher and is a joy to watch every week!

Fantastic experience: A fantastic club with friendly professional staff who run the Leisure Centre like clockwork. A great selection of facilities and classes with professional trainers. Also a big thanks to Lindsay and her clean machine team. The club and pool is spotless and they also have time to chat with the members. If you haven't tried it and live in Barnet try it out. 11 out of 10 Francis

Fantastic experience: I absolutely love this place I normally do classes with Charles and he is absolutely amazing by far the best instructor. I enjoy the way he conducts his lessons and the method of teaching that he uses I know he has definitely helped a lot of people in the centre.

Fantastic experience: This is my go to leisure centre. The place is always clean, it has all facilities to wash and dry after the swimming sessions which is also a great bonus! Staff are very friendly and welcoming especially Lindsey and Kerri who are also super helpful and polite. I would definitely recommend this leisure centre for adults as well as kids and families.

Fantastic experience: I’ve been using this leisure centre since it opened a few years ago. Its a pleasure to swim here, the pool is always crystal clear and beautifully inviting. I like the online booking system (on my mobile app) which makes it very easy to book activities. The staff are always very friendly which makes the atmosphere in the centre welcoming, it’s almost like visiting friends! I am pleased to say the upkeep and cleanliness of the centre has been maintained in top condition since day one, and I always see the staff (especially Lindsey and Kerri!) scrubbing and deep cleaning the changing areas. I’d recommend this leisure centre as definitely the best in the borough. Well done New Barnet!

Fantastic experience: I have been a member now for a few months and would highly recommend to anyone. The gym equipment is top class and well maintained along with really nice changing facilities and also a great pool if you fancy a swim.

Fantastic experience: Really glad I joined this gym! Manager Ozzy really helpful & friendly. Always clean. Good equipment. Fairly priced. Could do with a cafe for coffee downstairs soon!

Fantastic experience: Great addition to the local area. Gym is always clean, staff are friendly and it is a really reasonable price for the facilities.

Fantastic experience: Excellent Gym with very attentive Staff to help you with any questions. The gym is always clean and tidy

Fantastic experience: Great place with great staff pleasure to have this centre close to my house and pleasure to see members of my community here I really appreciate their friendly and welcoming environment

Fantastic experience: Nice clean place and amazing stuff specially thanks to Ozi is the Best personal trainer I ever trained very informative and professional #ozi

Fantastic experience: Great new facility. Easy access. Good parking. Good range of kit and machines. Very clean

Fantastic experience: Very nice gym and pool. Facilities all clean, modern and well maintained. Staff friendly and helpful. Only possible issue is that the app sometimes malfunctions, but the staff always help.

Fantastic experience: My regular gym. 10/10. Lacking equipment tho.

Fantastic experience: The gym building is only thee years old and therefore is very clean modern with new machines. The swimming pool is very warm and has a good atmosphere. Staff are very help and friendly. Everything is done via an app and you use your smart phone to gain entry. However as there's always someone in reception to lend a hand if you get stuck. Would have liked a sauna but their are rumours that one is in the pipeline. All in all highly recommended.

Positive experience: Clean and pleasant leisure centre with gym, pool and library. The library is usually closed on Sundays. If you have a membership card for any of the Barnet libraries, you can use it in here. The kids section is very rich. There is also a sofa for those parents who like to read books to their kids. There is a cafeteria has some good selection of snacks and drinks. There are 2 pools. The swimming classes for kids are good. The showers and changing rooms are relatively clean and it is easy to find a free changing room. During busy times kids have to queue shivering in front of the showers because there are not enough for all. You have to pay for the parking. However, parking in nearby streets is free of charge.

Fantastic experience: Went for a swim, the pool water was warm, loved it! They installed a world class gym outside..wow!

Fantastic experience: We have swimming lesson here, the trainer's and pool staff are all very nice. The training is very good for my 10 yr old daughter. The changing rooms/showers are very clean and tidy unlike many other pools in the borough, probably because this is more of a training/lanes swimming pool rather than leisure. The park outside is really nice and has fitness machines and a play area. Glad we chose this cpool to take lessons. Highly recommended

Fantastic experience: Swimming pool is spotless. Not too deep. Perfect length. Went on a Sunday and wasn't too crowded.

Fantastic experience: Excellent place with the biggest parking space I have ever seen...

Fantastic experience: Staff is lovely, everything is clean. Lots of parking spaces available.

Positive experience: The pool is lovely but the shower and changing area could be cleaner

Fantastic experience: The gym is fantastic! Very well equipped and clean. The staff are very friendly and helpful too, shout out to Oksana!

Negative experience: This site offers disable facilities but this is fake, they do not have the staff.

Fantastic experience: Wow, I submerged in an Olympics standard size swimming pool. Can't forget that in rush...

Positive experience: Lovely brand new facilities. The only down side was the pool was cold and after just half an hour we needed to get out as we were chilly. Luckily the showers were lovely and warm and lots of space for families to change.

Fantastic experience: Nice for ur boys lovely park and toys leisure centre has nice swimming pool.

Fantastic experience: Visited barnet pool for the first time with my daughter. Will definitely be returning. Spotlessly clean, not too busy and really nice staff..

Negative experience: I was in a situation where I caught someone watching another person under the changing room doors with a mirror. I confronted them and reported it. I was told I would be contacted with what will happen, three weeks later I have emailed twice and no reply. I’ve been calling trying to get through and no response. At the time being told it will be ‘investigated’ in the meantime he will not be banned from the facility. This is absolutely disgusting behaviour, which is illegal and police should have been contacted but they weren’t with this facility showing a lack of conduct. I later found out this is very very common with phones also in this particular facility but others are scared to confront. I was not and when I did there has been nothing done!! I have never been back and am now always very cautious changing in a shared facility.

Fantastic experience: Nice leisure centre, friendly staff,excellent lessons for this kids. My two progressed really well there, thanks guys

Fantastic experience: I started my membership about 3 months ago and I do not regret it at all. Very clean equipment and the place is kept quite tidy. Shout out to Róisín for being helpful and making everything easy for people, very good communication!

Fantastic experience: Lovely leisure centre - pool is fantastic with helpful and friendly staff. I usually can feel quite intimidated by gyms and pools etc but I feel very welcome and comfortable here!