Penrith Leisure Centre

Fantastic experience: Good gym but for some reason they don't rent harnesses for climbing.

Negative experience: Booked 2 Badminton courts for 1 hour, only to find out the staff member had booked 1 court for 2 hours so people in the group I was playing with were sat about for a time between games. The level of customer service as this place is terrible.

Fantastic experience: A lovely central building wit great facilities

Positive experience: Good swimming pool and lessons…….

Negative experience: I have never seen toilets so disgusting in all my life. The smell alone haunted me long after I left.

Positive experience: Lots of posing teenagers but otherwise all the facilities you could want from a gym

Fantastic experience: Good value, warm and welcoming sports and leisure centre.

Fantastic experience: Was there for an archery competition but the venue was great

Positive experience: Needs a deep clean

Fantastic experience: The best gym in town .

Fantastic experience: Good Gym, loads of squat racks. Bit of a small free weight area but it wasn't busy so it wasn't a problem. Wish they still had a punch bag as shown in some older reviews, and wish they had a calf press (no biggie though, can use the smith machine instead) For the price, you'd expect a bigger gym but overall, it was well.

Fantastic experience: Lovely place where you can spend half a day. Can do some swimming/splashing, then softplay for the little ones, good variety of food for kids. Very good ice coffee customised for me and dear daughter had loads of fun in softplay.

Fantastic experience: Awesome climbing wall and blow up maze!!! Lots of fun and friendly, helpful staff

Positive experience: Really nice and friendly staff, very up to date and impressive equipment, HOWEVER i cancelled my membership because of the constant state of the changing rooms. Always dirty, wet, very dated compared to the rest of the gym. Complained many times about the changing rooms but they always seemed to be very unclean.

Fantastic experience: Lovely wee leisure centre. Particularly like the Scottish woman who works in the cafe

Fantastic experience: Friendly reception staff. Great 25m pool with various depths. Can get very busy so definitely worth booking in advance. Shared changing and shower facilities, though one private shower in the toilets.

Negative experience: Changing rooms are very dirty, used plasters constantly on shower floor. Mould on tiles, inground dirt on floor tiles. Big shame on staff who manage this place.

Fantastic experience: We have been going to the Penrith leisure centre for a while now. We love it so much. The staff are so friendly. We go swimming 3 times a week. And we also go to the gym too. And I also do some classes to. It's a lovely place to meet people too . You always meet people to talk to in the pool ‍♂️ we are members now. We are very happy at the leisure centre. Thanks again for your kindness from Hev and Phil ‍♂️

Negative experience: Did a bubble football event in the sports hall here, both goals were broken and I was told that they didn’t have the appropriate equipment to put out the futsal goals. Staff were extremely rude and not helpful at all, pulling faces about helping and speaking to both me and the client as if we were children. Absolutely do not recommend! If you have got any other options for booking out places for parties or going for any other activity then definitely take them and don’t come here!!

Positive experience: Good parking , no parking ticket needed , just log in vehicle reg when entering the building. Recently been refurbished so gym is good too

Negative experience: Before becoming a parent I would have given three or four stars in a review for this leisure centre, but now visiting the place with a different approach as a parent my review is one star. The small pool is freezing, we've been a dozen or so times and within two minutes the kids are freezing and not enjoying it. Today they both had neoprene vests over their swim suits and were still baltic after two mins. It's a 38 mile round trip for us which make this even worse. Better gyms and the council could use the money they're not investing in the keswick pool to maybe bump the temperature up a degree or two in Penrith.

Fantastic experience: Came back after a very long time, booking online is easy to do. Was able to have a side of the pool near the wall to help with my anxiety which helped my confidence. Some of the older swimmers were a little rude but there were some who helped me feel at ease and asked if i was OK. I waited till my slot time to get in whereas others jumped in as they came, I'm not sure if this is intended but the booking doesn't seem to specify what to do on arrival. Other than that I look forward to coming back again for my x2 weekly swim.

Fantastic experience: Nathan In the soft play and cafe in Penrith leisure centre is an absolute delight. Such a credit to your company, nothing is ever to much, his can do attitude is outstanding, so happy, welcoming and a Joy to go there with his excellent customer service.

Fantastic experience: Large hall to hire out. Swimming. Gym. Soft play. Bowls. Astro pitch. Rooms to hire for parties, sporting events etc.

Positive experience: An all day event held in the sports hall mid November. Extremely cold all day to be honest it was warmer outside. Asked if they could turn on the heating. Thos bever happened and was told they would investigate. I know companies are cutting back but there's cutting back by turning it down a couple of degrees or cutting back by turning it off.

Fantastic experience: We went to the soft play area and that was very good. Cafe was reasonably priced and the food was good. Staff very friendly.

Negative experience: The booking system is a joke, the cleanliness of the pool and changing rooms is awful.

Positive experience: Only can comment on the softplay tables full of cups and rubbish and floor was very messy in the table side never seen anyone come out and clean so did it myself as for the softplay area were the kids play in was small but my little one loved it so all in all ok just need staff to keep area cleaner

Negative experience: Never got as far as visiting this place since the phone call was enough to put us off. The online swim timetable seemed to indicate that for most of the day time weekdays the only option is lane swimming over the entire pool. The phone call was unhelpful and seemed to blame me for wanting something other than lane swimming. I was offered the learner pool of 1m depth for us adults, both in our 50s wanting a leisure swim without any pressure. I have never come across a pool that only offers lane swimming for the majority of its time. Not everyone wants the pressure of lane swims. A poor timetable and unhelpful, argumentative telephone response.

Negative experience: Really disappointing experience today. Swim sessions are limited to 50 minutes now which I wasn't aware of and wasn't told about when we paid. Prior to Covid I had been a regular swimmer here 5 times a week and swam for 90 minutes minimum. Recently I started teaching my partner who has severe anxiety to swim. It can often take 15 mins for her be able to start. Today I was told by the lifeguard about the time limit, I double checked at the front desk to be rather cheekily told they'd done us a favour by letting us stay longer. Someone more senior chipped in to say the time limit changed during COVID. It seems as if when places aren't run like a business, they think they're doing you a favour to go there. I'd suggest it would be a good time to review the swim time limit. The 2 recent previous times we went, the lifeguards and staff where friendly and helpful even though we were unaware of this time limitation.

Negative experience: Left here after a month as I can't belive the lack of classes and options available. Hardly any choice to me very basic classes definitely not a gym that evolves with training techniques. Pools are dirty bottom of surface covered in hair and dirt really not nice to see. Facilities have been lacking each time dirty smelly toilets and no paper etc never seen a cleaner there or any charts etc to say when they've been cleaned. Lots of places have charts on the door that are signed and cleaned every hour or so ? Definitely needed in a busy public place. Don't seem to have many instructors who have much experience or knowledge in the industry, more school leavers and lifeguards. No sauna steam rooms things like that , parking is an absolute faff to go in to get a ticket from reception to go back out to your vehicle in bad weather and with small children seems silly just get cameras that zapp cars in and out ? Parking severely limited too.Overall compared to other gyms way behind I'm afraid feels like a gym from the 90s. Not worth the membership fee. Better off doing les Mills at home

Fantastic experience: Fantastic little soft play and cafe. At £2 for entry to the soft play it’s great value. The cafe is also good value too. Didn’t try any food but at £2 for an americano and £2.50 for a cheese toastie you can’t go wrong. An asset to Penrith.

Positive experience: The gym itself was clean with plenty of different machines to use, everyone was in routine of wiping down all of the machines, however the changing rooms need some serious updating, there was mold all over the showers, while the draining system went all into the middle of the changing rooms, lockers were coated with dried mud as well as the hair dryers not working it felt similar to a prison shower. The reception team are extremely helpful and make you feel welcome.

Positive experience: Great new gym with lots of good spec stuff for such a little leisure centre, recommend not going during junior gym times unless you want swarms of young teens hoarding all the equipment.

Fantastic experience: All new high quality equipment which can be connected to an app on your phone which is amazing and a useful thing to have to keep on top of your progress

Negative experience: Paying a high price for a sub standard gym.machines broken weights thrown all over.gym moved to the sports hall with no prior warning and no weight over 15kg.asked for a refund for that months usage as I wouldn't be using the gym during the refurbishment and was told I wouldn't be getting a refund.the reason I was given didn't even make sense.going to stick with the higher priced gym I joined during refurbishment.The disrespect is unbelievable.

Positive experience: Staff pleasant but premises really cold

Fantastic experience: Indoor bowls. A blast and all for £2 an hour. Cant beat that.

Fantastic experience: Really happy with the service at this leisure centre. We arrived without booking and were accommodated quickly and pleasantly by Karen. Thanks again for a lovely morning family swim.

Fantastic experience: The centre is lovely and clean, staff are friendly and welcoming.

Positive experience: Make sure to pay for parking at reception during day. After 6pm it's OK. Gym, pool and halls always busy, usually worth checking and booking

Fantastic experience: Helpful Staff. Lots of new equipment , great refurb,

Fantastic experience: Great centre serving the community

Positive experience: Good leisure facilities for a town the size of Penrith, due to investment from Eden District Council

Positive experience: Only used for soft play session. Would like to try the swimming hoping they do spaces on weekends with working week days.

Positive experience: The gym really needs the mechanical equipment either maintaining or replacing. Some of the equipment seems to have it's own 'features' which mean they are not fully functioning. This can range from touch screens not working so you cannot access the fitness programmes or TV screens not functioning.

Fantastic experience: Very pleasant place to be and very friendly staff. Looking forward to many more visits.

Fantastic experience: Really clean with lots of sanitisation and spacious gym.

Fantastic experience: Coach park down the road

Fantastic experience: My son had a great time at Jungle Jacks. Was hoping the cafe would be open but we still had a good time.

Fantastic experience: Great booking system in place

Positive experience: Excellent indoor bowling facilities with very helpful staff. Let down by lack of hot drink facility

Positive experience: We have a wonderful leisure centre with a super gym. My only complaint is the water in the pool is too cold and the changing room is even colder, it's like walking into a fridge.

Fantastic experience: Absolutely great experience. We went swimming with my 1 year old nephew and the lifeguards were wonderful. Megan in particular really helped us when we were already in the pool and want arms bands she brought them to poolsidw for us. The temp of the water was perfect!! Would definately go again!!!

Fantastic experience: Took my 5yrs son for his first time and we are not locals, to the mixed Gymnastics class for juniors at 9.30 and although he was really apprehensive the coaches were so warm, welcoming and encouraging instead of not even trying and walking away in tears they took the time, helped him relax and eventually got him involved in the activities. He bounced out the place happy, energised and positive asking me if he could come back tomorrow! Couldn't have asked for more so extremely grateful and impressed. Thanks, we will see you next wk but will be practising our stretching etc until then.

Positive experience: Good but basic gym, no details on closing times though which can cause you to pay entry with less than an hour to close time

Positive experience: Use the gym from time to time as not from the area. It's a tenner a sesh which is very steep for what equipment they have. Staff on reception are bang on, friendly and very helpful

Fantastic experience: Been coming for year friendly, helpful and following all safety guidelines for all gym users

Fantastic experience: First ever visit to the pool. It was well organised and safe. We had a great time.

Fantastic experience: swimming lessons are super

Fantastic experience: First ever swim at this pool. Very well organized

Positive experience: Nice soft play area for the little ones the only thing is it's a bit on the small side nevertheless my kids spent over an hour and a half there. They do a really nice hot chocolate but the food menu is a little limited in choice. Food prices are reasonable but I feel as though the cost of entry for a SMALL soft play area isn't good value for money since the larger ones charge around similar price.

Negative experience: Hi! I go to the gym twice a week and pay for every day, I wish that I do not want a subscription because I will go on holiday the following month and I will stay for a month, so I do not want to start a subscription now! I have a card that I was told expired and I needed to fill all the steps on your tablet, why if I was registered! I am not a British and I do not understand everything that did not like the receptionists and did not have a good behavior, it was a little bit racist and that ruined my day!

Positive experience: Gym: have been using gym for a few weeks now. Very good instructer. Floors and equipment need cleaning. Not very hygenic. Ladies changing rooms have a bad drain odour. Swimming: My grand children take lessons and I have noticed recently there is not always a lifeguard on duty.

Negative experience: The swimming pool was nice with clean changing facilities. It's an old school pool with no slides or anything but that is good for us with a disabled child. However, to get 2 kids into the soft play after already paying for swimming was almost £9!! Bit steep if you ask me.

Positive experience: For the first time in my life, I climb up the wall. It is an exciting and enjoyable experience. It seems that the wall is easy from down but it is really very difficult, there are different levels of difficulty, they are care about safety. It was a very cool experience.

Positive experience: I have used the pool a number of times and have no complaints on the size of the pool or cleanliness of the changing facilities, my only complaint would be the schedule for swimming, men only swimming, women only , over 50,s etc surely could be combined and available for everyone, thus making it available for all to attend? Keeping the schedule as it is combined with the pools demands from other groups definitely makes it more difficult if you want to swim on a regular basis.

Negative experience: Dreadful place ... had to walk all the way round the building to be told i have to buy a ticket to get in but i have to go n put the damn ticket in the car 1st !! That was 10 minutes off my swim time in my lunch break ! Then told buy an ignorant swimming i had to go across to the next lane as i was too large to swim in the fast lane !! I had only just got off the steps in the pool!!! This ignornant swimmer then informs me im going the wrong way up and down the lane .... all i did was follow the way the other swimmers were going ...... just because i am over weight does not mean i cannot swim fast ... and i am not a bloody idiot .... the other swimmers were happy going up and down .. so bloody what if they wasnt doing it her way... its down to the staff not ignorant rude people like her to tell them .... will never go back !!!!!

Negative experience: Lady on the front, (rather large one) haven't met someone so rude

Negative experience: Decent enough facilities and prices acceptable let down by really poor administration. Easier to drive in for information than calling for example.

Positive experience: Amazingly good swimming and climbing wall instructors. Really great coaching team but on the whole I have had poor experiences with the administration team. Ask a simple question and more often than not they won't know the answer. Most reception staff are, however, polite and friendly but with some noticeable exceptions, where the staff's off hand attitude is truly stunning! Changing rooms are not very nice - people leave clothes in the cubicles rather than lockers and often there are absolutely no free changing rooms. The management do nothing about this. There needs to be more visible cleaning teams, especially in the loos! No partnership Gym memberships and no off peak gym memberships, so we no longer bother with the gym as it's overpriced for what you get.

Negative experience: These people are thieves. They have taken about £90 from my bank account despite my cancellation of membership in March. Absolutely not to be trusted. Edit: This may be under review

Negative experience: Gym is tiny and busy and expensive for what it is..., loose weights always in the wrong place and scattert across the floor I see plenty of staff but never tidying the gym, changing facilities are unpleasant to say the least . .and to top it off the parking is always full. Normally a que when you get to the desk all for the pleasure of nearly 50 quid a month.

Positive experience: I would not recommend the training pool for babies. Although I was assured that the temperature should be 29oC, it didn't feel that warm. I couldn't keep my 3 month old in longer than 20 mins because he felt cold. This was not the first time he'd been swimming either. Family changing facilities are great, though.

Fantastic experience: Loads to offer. Friendly staff, good prices. Soft play and a climbing wall is a big bonus!

Positive experience: My daughters enjoyed being able to touch the bottom of the 0.6-0.9 smaller pool. Water was a tad chilly but they didn't seem to notice. Great that children under five are free. They enjoyed the soft play afterwards which was also reasonably priced, whilst we warmed up with a brew in the cafe next to it, a great place. Staff on reception and in cafe were friendly and helpful.

Positive experience: Could do with more public swimming instead of clubs, school and lessons which always seem to overrun by 5-10 minutes, sometimes a bit crowded in the 90 minutes of public swim time .......still a good pool tho with helpful staff

Negative experience: Not happy with soft play at all. No rules at all. Older kids acting bad, little kids have no chance to slide down without being pushed away .

Negative experience: Overpriced, lacking in free weights of which are a bit broken and always in a messy pile. Not ideal for people who take training seriously. Staff are friendly and the place is clean enough. Only used the gym so my review is only based on that, the rest of the center is probably great!

Negative experience: Since Better have taken over, this gym has cut classes and provided a disgusting customer service. Computer systems are always faulty, ridiculous rules have been put in which just do not work and they care more about money than their customers or instructors.

Positive experience: Good place for badminton.

Fantastic experience: Great. Much better then it used to be. Karen G is a star

Fantastic experience: Great facilities, pool is great too. There's classes for everyone and everything. Love it!

Positive experience: Good facilities, been there once a month with friends for the past 5 months. Unfortunately, they twice failed to honour our soccer pitch booking, giving us the far inferior muddy pitch the first time, on a wet day (so it wasn't fun), while choosing the much smaller indoor space the second time (last Saturday), which was too small for our number. On the plus side, they refunded us on both occasions. Still, we had travelled from all over, so we'd much prefer to get what what we'd booked in the first place...

Fantastic experience: Great for kids

Fantastic experience: Good sized Pool and Helpful staff on Pool side.

Positive experience: A well-equipped gym, and a nice, albeit simple, swimming area. There are facilities here for just about any sport that you could think of, from badminton and basketball, to outdoor hockey and football astroturf pitches at the rear. Even the Cafe is good, and the entire building feels bright and sunny. The staff are very helpful. The only thing that could make this place better is filling the gaps with a few more sports.

Positive experience: Great swimming classes for the young ones

Fantastic experience: I do gymnastics there and I really enjoy it

Negative experience: very poor and horrible customer service from the reception desk including the supervisors I was chocked at the way they treated us not helpful what so ever

Fantastic experience: Bit expensive