Sandwell Aquatics Centre

Negative experience: You cant cancelle a membership you have wait so long for somebody to pick up the phone and not worth rude staff

Fantastic experience: was really enjoyable experience especially with thee staff who showed me around , was really polite and helpful, and the receptionist as well she was really helpful and got that human sens that I am looking for in people you approach

Fantastic experience: Top place to learn to swim and do pool activities and gym Amazingly helpful and professional members of staff

Fantastic experience: Lovely atmosphere and friendly staff members if you want to work on your body to make yourself great this place is the right place for you

Negative experience: Gone to this swimming centre at school for swimming lessons. First of all, the swimming instructors are so extremely strict, like, let children be children. Secondly, I think it's really stupid that we have to change in the same room, I have seen enough on my Tuesdays. Lastly, the water is way too cold and they don't let us have toilet breaks during my lessons. Prayers to the people who go to this awful and gruesome centre.

Fantastic experience: Best service by RAKUL. Highly recommend

Fantastic experience: Great swimming competition and lovely people

Positive experience: A lovely pool in a strange location. I can understand why the locals are not happy at the lack of parking...resulting in cars and minibuses all over the streets when there is a big.ish event. Who in their right mind signed off on this in the middle of a residential area. Such a shame that it won't be used for major events because it upsets the locals.

Fantastic experience: What a beautiful place first time I've saw it today and a tour as I do work for same company love it

Fantastic experience: Decent place for a workout/fitness I only use the gym which is excellent but the pools look great and there plenty more activities to do here

Negative experience: doesn’t deserve a rating. lady at receptionist could use some manners as she lacks good customer service skills. Didn’t allow me to go into the women’s only too and body language was so rude.

Negative experience: One of the lady at reception was really rude, they had a session for ladies only and when we got there they said we couldn’t do the session because two of my cousins were not 18. They said kids were not allowed even though it’s for women and they’re pathetic excuse was other women don’t like the kids but my cousins were 17 only a year away from 18 ‍♀️so silly. They shouldn’t call it ladies only if they don’t allow women of all age. 100% would NOT recommend.

Fantastic experience: Excellent facilities, helpful staff.

Fantastic experience: Clean and roomy. Keep an eye on the timetables though.

Negative experience: Lovely pool and diving facilities, let down by the lack of anyone policing the parking. People seem to park anywhere.

Positive experience: It's alright but not the best of places to go to over crowded with people what ever time of the day and trying to find parking is a nightmare. The sports hall are way too bright and muggy as they are next to the swimming pool. The gym is very small with not a lot of equipment.

Negative experience: Iv only been once with my grandchildren last night with my son and 3 grandchildren found the small pool very cold for young children over crowded seeing the width and length also my son popped to toilet and life guard questions how many children I was watching that center is not fit for purpose not for family’s hairdryers some not working thimblemill and Langley should have stayed open very disappointed

Negative experience: Why they charge £1 for lockers whereas it's 20p every other SLT centres

Negative experience: Really bad instructors, they don’t try to teach , they wait to complete the lesson only , kids could not improve their performance in 1 year , waste of time and money.

Positive experience: Visited on a Sunday with my daughter and her friends, missed the 1:15pm session as it was already full, so waited a hour for the next session. For the family sessions I think a few floats in the fool would make it more fun Nice clean place with friendly staff. Shout out to the lifeguards who never took their eyes off the pool. Cafe inside, loads of parking.

Positive experience: It was very relaxing and the children area was engaging.

Negative experience: Thought the management had been improved after reading the reviews. Went there for a public swim but they shutdown the queue right in front of me because the pool was fulled. They said there would be another session in an hour, so I spent £20 at the caf and came back for the next session, but they later said it’s for family only so we had to go home.

Fantastic experience: Nice place

Positive experience: Swimming lessons great here.

Negative experience: Went to enquire about swimming lessons for my daughter as no one bothered to contact me after multiple attempts at contacting the centre and no response , the receptionist said they were closed before we had even got to the desk , the website said open ! There was no hello , how can I help you etc .. terrible customer service and ride staff not willing to even have a conversation, if closed why were the doors open , why were staff at the desk .

Fantastic experience: I love it

Negative experience: Literally came early as soon as it started a minute ago and the line was already full. 4 swimming pools and still can’t let us in 1 what a joke

Positive experience: Great leisure centre,, would have given 5 stars only 2 issues ,, sauna times for women and men don't make sense and sauna upstairs a long walk down to have a swim and then back up dripping.

Negative experience: My grandchild has swimming lessons and I've got to say it was shocking, the instructors for the first time swimmers are not good totally half arsed attitude, not watching them properly safe to say he's not going there again.

Positive experience: Good facilities, but their management requires improvement.

Negative experience: Swimming lessions for kids are like a fish market. Really really dissapointed at having 3 different instructors each time for stage 1 swimming....one two occasions the instructors were not in the pool. One instructor who was covering another seemed to be getting annoyed at kids who struggled. Too busy, too noisy and level of teaching and practice is poor.

Negative experience: They never answer the phone

Positive experience: Everything good showers were dirty lots of hair everywhere

Positive experience: Overall good facilities. However I've noticed a decline in the cleanliness of the changing rooms on all floors. I have spoken with staff about this let's see if there is going to be a change

Fantastic experience: Great staff and there is a nice cafe

Positive experience: It's an okay place. Sometimes the place is allegedly 'full' when there are barely any people. Have to give it a 3.

Negative experience: My Doughter she started her swimming lessons in November 2023 until now 10 of Jun 2024 which is 8 month she is still in the same stage 1 with new people just joining, This place is just waste of time and money...!!!!!

Fantastic experience: Lovely place and staff with plenty of facilities

Fantastic experience: I'm learning to swim there. It's really good. Highly recommended

Negative experience: Mad busy … and the “lane swim” was just 3 lanes … out of such a huge place I found that rather pathetic. A great place just driven by money … ie get as many kids in as you can. Shame really. Went once, will not return.

Fantastic experience: Great pool and facilities for all types of swimmers, 50m pool is only open to the general public twice a week and from 0630 - 0830. Otherwise, one of the best pools out there

Fantastic experience: Lovely pool to watch competition not hot inside to compare to others, parking is big as soon as you allowed to use it, as could be reserved for officials and gym members in the morning. Nice caffe area and a park outside.

Positive experience: Sandwell Aquatic Centre offers a complete package for fitness enthusiasts! With swimming pools, gym, badminton, and basketball courts, it's a haven for active lifestyles. Clean facilities, attentive staff, and diverse activities cater to all ages and interests. A top choice for holistic fitness!

Fantastic experience: Fantastic place friendly and knowledgeable staff

Negative experience: Poor customer support and service

Fantastic experience: Serene atmosphere. You can have some coffee and work as you unwind.

Fantastic experience: Attended a few times now for different swimming sessions. Staff are very friendly and helpful even when the centre is busy or it’s half six in the morning

Negative experience: For some competition there is decent size, but parking for events nightmare. RLSS championship '24 has to a lot to improve.

Positive experience: Stunning building, excellent facilities. A facility to be proud of! Blown away by the space inside, huge entrance foyer, large clean changing facilities. Recently had a café built in the foyer. Hopefully the local authority can keep up with the maintenance of such a fantastic place. Shame about the location, terrible road access, only one way in and out which isn't helped by a busy and awkward road junction 50m from the entrance. Also the number of customers who can't park their precious cars in a space properly is appalling, especially when free spaces are limited most of the time. Thank you for not thinking of other people you truly are an asset to the human race.

Negative experience: Called up today as I had an issue with my membership only to be put on hold again and have them put the phone down on me

Positive experience: I went to sandwell aquatics centre for the first time last Thursday I can't thank Romy who works there enough she showed me what to do where to go what a lovely lady thanks Romy

Fantastic experience: This is an outstanding sports facility. Clean, smart and very well equipped.

Negative experience: Very rude unhelpful reception staff Very rude duty manager Came here once instead of Tipton to try something new, wish I hadn’t! Won’t be returning!

Negative experience: Not a clean place to visit always powder in the changing rooms really needs a cleaner to keep the changing rooms clean at all times

Positive experience: The swimming facilities are pleasant if your going to swim it is great for that. The classes seem great too its got community and its friendly for that. The gym however is filled with wannabe tough guys who occupy the bench area. Very toxic. Most people are rude there, people will interrupt your training and just take weights that your using without asking. Mostly grown Asian men in groups that act this way in my experience. The showers seemed uncleaned and many people just don't respect that gym. If your after the gym experience I think there better ones out there.

Negative experience: Access to swimming pools is very poor now only small pool which realistically is to shallow to swim. lane swimming available but people get frustrated with the slower swimmers,it's appears the other pools never seem to be in use nowadays,? Why? Staff shortage. The changing rooms sadly are not the cleanest,the toilets are always very untidy and in need of a good clean even when you arrive at 6.30am, maintenance is poor repairs seem to take weeks hairdryers are broken. What is going on it is supposed to be the flag ship of Sandwell leisure facilities. What happened to the staff from the Two local pools they closed and also surely Haden Hill is also closed so why can't there staff be utilized to fill the short staffing situation in the short term . I really hope standards and swimming facilities improve very soon ,or I fear many people will stop using the centre and it will rely on lessons and competions and us local residents will be deprived of our local public Baths

Negative experience: Millions spent and things are not functioning properly or already broken. Went for a swim last Friday, the pool water was cold and there was no hot water coming through the showers. Last night, the sauna and steam were not working properly. The sauna was not working during my 2 hour visit. What is my membership paying for. Put up notices on reception or Facebook to inform your customers when things are not working, or employ more staff to monitor rooms .Is this what my membership pays for?

Positive experience: The centre itself is fabulous. The parking is ridiculous for such a huge sports facility, they need to rethink this. It caused havoc for the Staffordshire County Championships. Also, they have no cafe only a couple of vending machines although it looked like they were building one.

Negative experience: My daughters has swimming classes here, she been in the same class for the last 3/4 months, from September 2023 to January 2024, her swimming teacher is Jordan and a complete waste of time, all I see him is talking to other people, joking around with other instructors, he gets all the kids out the pool, talks to them for a good 5 minutes whilst they are cold and shaking, then tells them to go back in. Not happy that parents are paying so much money and this idiot is not taking things seriously! His mother works there too, I really hope she is not the same!

Fantastic experience: Lovely place but sadly a complete lack of parking spaces for large galas. One idiot parked on the pavement so we couldn't get past with a wheelchair. He refused to help to get my husband down from the quite high kerb and when challenged he just walked away. Complete lack of any compassion!! The accessible places were all taken, many without blue badges, but the very accommodating young man who was policing the parking, found us an appropriate place.

Negative experience: I swear they take the piss, never picking up the phone always sleeping on the chair. You want a real job and actually work call me.

Negative experience: If there were zero stars... I would have given them. Every time I go swimming... it is closed... and every month they They takes money... A family membership costs £75 and I can’t even swim when I want to and on top of that all of the people are forced into the middle swimming pool constantly bumping into each other to the point sometimes you have to stand still in the same position.The gym lacks a lot of equipment and you have to wait for others to finish.The gym is closed at 4pm on weekends I understand that the people working need a weekend break however some of us are only able to workout on the weekend and shifts do exist after all.The reception service is terrible they take too long and aren’t great at what they do.My advice is to find a different place to go that has the facilities that you require.

Negative experience: Can never get them on the phone this is the fifth time calling I'm writing this whilst on the phone again now been waiting 45 minutes still no answer the receptionist surely is not that busy, these phones are on mute for sure

Fantastic experience: A good tour experience by Rufshana

Positive experience: So to save a life guards wage they have reduced the lane swimming by half causing utter misery for the public who are now crammed into 5 lanes with poor and weak swimmers in everybody's way through no fault of their own What is supposed to be a healthy activity is now totally stressful and with up to 8 people in a lane it's akin to driving on a motorway *** This has now been overturned it seems the power of customer complaints and the threat of cancelling membership has forced them to re-open all ten lanes again

Negative experience: Facilities are ok - but rarely have the full 50m length pool open - apparently to accommodate swimmers who cannot swim 50m - what about those that can?!?! When its just 25m length pool most of the time only half the lanes are open so swimmers are packed in and no organisation to allow faster swimmers and slower swimmers to be in different lanes. The biggest problem is that the finance department and memberships department are a complete waste of space!!! It is now the third time I have had a membership cancelled for no reason. The most recent is because DDs due to be taken on 1st of each month but as 1st Jan is bank holiday Direct debit could not be collected so SLT decided to cancel my membership even though I had been into reception and paid the membership fee by card!!! No email, letter, communication or anything. The membership department and finance department phone numbers just ring out (no answer or voicemail option) and emails are never answered. Judging by the queues at reception and from conversations with reception staff my experiences are not isolated issues

Positive experience: Every time I been at this place the reception takes a really really long time for a so called state of the art centre. Unfortunately as I have to pay for one of my kids for swimming I have to que there every time. (15-20 minutes wait, & that’s if you’re lucky)

Fantastic experience: Friendly and helpful staff. Everything is clean and ready to use at any time.

Fantastic experience: Very efficient service at reception to join. Not been yet to get back into the swimming regime, but I can't wait.

Negative experience: Gym facilities are ok. Swimming pool is great but the changing need some TLC. Broken doors and locks, no baby change facilities. Website is awful; timetable system needs an overhaul, it's a pain trying to book classes, even checking opening times is a joke. Turned up at 2pm, gym closes at 4pm (according to website and Google) yet the place is closed. If you have festive opening times then you should communicate it.

Positive experience: Fab facility but no cafe and too many people standing around in middle of pool causing congestion

Fantastic experience: Great facilities and the polish lady that works there is amazing and accommodating. I take a group of ladies swimming on a Monday and to the Gym on a Tuesday and the staff have been great and very helpful. Thank you for everything

Fantastic experience: Love this centre - offers amazing facilities (including loads of parking space) & excellent sporting opportunities! Friendly & super helpful staff as well…

Negative experience: What public swimming ? The public swimming pool is so small and not deep enough! Only 1.30 metres. There are only 3 lanes for swimming and you have to swim next to everyone else who is there for family fun ( not an issue ). The deep pool is solely for the club and swimming lessons. I have nowhere to swim now. Sandwell Aquatics is now the only centre for swimming lessons which means it's way too busy and not enough space has been made for public swimming .The changing rooms are way too busy. Not enough showers ! Also toilets are not clean. To say toilets are checked and cleaned regularly is not true. The disabled toilet on the 1st floor has not been cleaned in a while and there is no soap to wash your hands. Sandwell Aquatics please arrange poper line swimming for adults in a 2 metres deep pool in the evening . Not everyone can come in the morning or daytime.

Fantastic experience: I had the pleasure of experiencing outstanding service from Luke, the manager at Sandwell Aquatics Centre. His expertly guided tour showcased the facility's offerings, and his unparalleled helpfulness ensured a seamless and enjoyable experience. Luke's commitment to customer satisfaction truly sets a standard of excellence at the Aquatics Centre. Highly recommend!

Negative experience: I went for a swim there tonight, the swimming pool area is magnificent, i the pool area is very clean and the water is good, no stinging eyes. However, when I came out of the swimming pool, the changing rooms were freezing cold. I went to get my clothes and towel etc to take a shower only to find out that there were no showers available, there was a massive cue for the showers, children were standing and shivering on the spot, I was frozen. I cannot believe they only have 11 shower cubicles for the size of the place. Absolutely ridiculous!! I had to go home and take a shower instead.

Negative experience: No one is picking up the phone- been 3 days now still no answer as they say I've missed classes which I have not as the instructor ticked me off his Aqua class lists !! Emailed twice and still no response!!

Positive experience: Built for Birmingham Commonwealth Games. Now used by the local community. Still has 50m pool. Plus a gym

Positive experience: Gym,sauna and steam ok . The pool is now noticeable colder and a lot of people are saying same. Even one lifeguard I spoke to admitted water was colder now. I'm looking to cancel my one card membership.

Negative experience: The swimming pool is always taken after 5pm also on the weekends you cant swim because they constantly host events. Also they make it very difficult to cancel membership

Positive experience: While the facilities are generally good the gyms are much smaller you’d expect for such a large centre. I’m very disappointed with the limited opening hours for the centre especially Saturday and Sunday as it closes at 4pm!!! The latest you can go swimming is 14:30 and being kicked out of gym or studios at 15:45. These are two days when so many people are off from work and could make the use of the facilities. Before the centre’s opening I was very excited to go to gym, sauna, then swimming on the weekends, but the limited opening hours often make it so difficult, I have left this feedback and was not impressed with the response as it was defensive rather than approach where they try to work with its members. I have spoken to many people who go to the centre who agree on this point and just seems like a waste not having it open for longer on these days. I am considering leaving for this reason.

Fantastic experience: patrick deserves a raise, honestly one of the best instructors i’ve ever seen.

Negative experience: The customer service is poor, as the was receptionist are rude. I asked the receptionist a few questions and she said that im a 'very difficult customer' right in front of me to another staff member, thinking that I didn't hear her. All she had to do was answer a few questions, which is her job and what she is paid for.

Fantastic experience: Brilliant .receptionist very welcoming and helpful. Enjoyed the pool .women only .

Positive experience: Joined this gym and its amazing. Main gym for men and women. Women only gym. Had an induction which has to be booked with reception. Personal trainer Patrick was brilliant, professional and very helpful Lovely views from top floor whilst using the gym.

Positive experience: Superb swimming facilities, our children do both the diving classes and regular swim lessons. Lovely clean place, bright and welcoming. I have seen a number of negative reviews focused on the size of the gym… it would be wise to remember that the building is primarily a swimming facility with stapled on activities. It’s unfair to compare the gym here to a specialist gym elsewhere. Slight negative point from me is that the electrical car charging spaces are more often than not, taken up by lazy and ignorant ICE car users. Preventing EV charging.

Fantastic experience: Romay from the reception she's is amazing very polite m very helpful she has helped me alot

Fantastic experience: Aqua fit & Zumba classes are great fun and the instructors are friendly and welcoming. My only complaint would be the studio pool isn't deep enough, and the water can be cold, could do with being heated a few more degrees,

Negative experience: Me and my mum visited for the first time today, firstly it took over 20 mins of waiting before we were able to purchase a swim session, if it's a long queue it would be understandable, but there were 2-3 staff at the desk with only two people waiting. Then, we went to the pool and the water was too cold and deep for my mum, we asked if there were any other pools available and we're told we needed to come back for the studio pool. We left without swimming, and went to the desk, to ask for a refund or allow us to re use this booking we paid for when the studio pool is available, which we were refused. It's a shame the customer service is so poor, for which if it was better, we would have loved to become members.

Fantastic experience: Fantastic brand new venue with great facilities for all ages

Negative experience: Just cancelled my family membership. Haden Hill, Smethwick, Langley pools all closed - and the aquatic centre now closed 3 weekends for competitions, leaving no time for families to actually go swimming! Absolute farce.

Positive experience: Great facilities. Warmest water ever come across in a 50m pool, and have swam in many.

Positive experience: The facilities are good however I have been to the sauna and steam session for ladies only and there is no measures in place stopping men from walking in and men from staying in the steam and sauna one incident I had to go downstairs in my swim suit to get reception I felt embarrassed and honestly not relaxed at all alot of the woman have the same views and have complained to management however nothing has been done so much for locks on the entrances, disappointed!

Negative experience: Not sure why you can't book to swim in the evening on a weekday anymore. This is the only time I can feasibly make it to the centre. No information online about how to access the gym, I don't want to turn up and have to be turned away. Incredibly frustrating. Not worth the £33 a month for a OneCard. Extra star awarded as the changing rooms are usually clean.

Fantastic experience: A lot of activities to choose from, swimming, yoga, zumba....

Negative experience: Completely underwhelming - Close 3 x pools and give us one with reduced hours of operation and size. No structure to the pool - instead of 50meters we get 25m as it is divided into three with one section closed and the other used by a University. Then the two lanes do not have speed markings so all abilities attempting to swim in the same lane. Then we get an email saying how great they have an event so members cannot use the pool. No consideration that we pay the same amount on direct debit. I am considering cancelling my membership as SLT do not care Please note the postage stamp in the middle of the picture is the public swim.

Fantastic experience: Perfect place to start your athletic experience!

Fantastic experience: Arrived at the centre today ready to cancel my membership due to numerous issues with my online account. I have been into the centre a few times and been fobbed off by the receptionist telling me I had to call memberships and that he couldn't help me and was quite rude ( i didnt catch his name). I decided to go in today to cancel my membership full stop and spoke to a lady called Jo. She listened to my reasons for cancelling and asked if she could try and help me and within 5 minutes of being there she sorted my account and got everything back up and running for me. So just wanted to say a massive thank you to her for actually listening to me and getting things resolved rather than fobbing me off. Now everything is sorted I will he keeping my membership and hopefully in future everyone else can get the same kindness and understanding as I did today from Jo so thank you again

Negative experience: They don't answer the phone

Positive experience: This is an amazing venue, I only use the swimming pool. But a 50m pool in good old Smethwick is truly astonishing. The staff are inexperienced but time should deal with that. Only used a 25m before the difference is unreal. Its important that we use this jewel we have. As many people as possible need use this reasonably priced venue that was used for the commonwealth games.