Jesmond Pool & Gym

Fantastic experience: Excellent, well maintained charity-run community gym and pool. All of the equipment is less than 18 months old and the space in both gyms is maximised as much as possible. Constant updates to all areas of the building to make it as modern as possible given its listed status. For example, the changing rooms in the process of being completely remodelled and updated, the building is being reroofed in preparation for solar panelling to be installed, and the heating systems for the pool are also getting completely replaced to be 100% renewable by the end of 2026. Can get hot and humid given the proximity to the pool itself and it is annoying having to take your shoes off to access the upstairs gym, but all pools have strict no shoes policies in place in changing/poolside areas. They’re currently looking at adding significantly to the class schedule along with other additions making it easily the best value for money gym & pool in the area. They always aim to do the absolute best they can given the tight restrictions in place because of the building itself and the volunteer element of any charity and most certainly hit the mark. Would absolutely recommend this place without a second’s hesitation.

Negative experience: Jesus christ, worst gym ive ever been to. Changing rooms stink of urine. Staff just shout at customers and are awful in general. The sauna isn't even hot it was probably about 25 degrees. The Gym itself is pathetic and doesn't have enough equipment. Judging by the responses by the team at the gym also they don't seem actually bothered about all the issues addressed by other customers and instead like to argue with the customers and use the excuse that they are a charity that receives no funding (sounds like a business to me.) Shame as well because it's a great location. Avoid at all costs!

Negative experience: Absolutely mortified that my 2 yr old daughter started swimming lessons this morning with her dad. She went into the changing rooms with her dad to be faced with naked men before and after her lesson. Upon making reception aware I was given no apology just that the swimming teacher would be made aware. I’m disgusted that it was almost normal that this was happening. DO NOT take children swimming unless you want them exposed to this disgusting place.

Negative experience: A good small pool with a very rude life guards who watch yours and your kids every step to the point where I felt being stalked and commented upon the way I had to guard my own kid in the pool (which goes beyond their powers). Changing room is full of naked old men who walk around with their bits out and watching kids there too, been there 5 times and same thing over and over - won’t be back there for sure

Positive experience: Ventilation in the gym is non existent so too hot

Fantastic experience: Great pool. Always clean. All staff are friendly and happy to help. Keep up the exceptional work team!

Fantastic experience: Great pool and gym, staff are great and everyone is very welcoming.

Fantastic experience: Jesmond pool plays a really important part in the community; I’ve made lots of friends there both in the pool and exercise classes. The pool helps local charities by holding keys for the volunteers. Most Jesmond children have learned to swim at Jesmond Pool. The pool is open for long hours to suit swimmers and gym attendees. The staff are very experienced, friendly and helpful. Thank you for everything Jesmond Pool and Gym!

Fantastic experience: Beautiful pool. Great sauna and steam redone recently. Great staff. Gym has everything you need, and all the equipment got replaced quite recently too. All the classes are affordable and friendly teachers. A lot of the clientele are medics and students (because it's Jesmond) but everyone's welcome and it's a good vibe. The opening hours is one of the strongest points. They're open till 10pm weekdays, and the last couple of hours are a chillout session where they turn the lights off, and often play music. It's especially good dark winter nights. The best is when they occasionally get live music acts. Apart from the odd narcissist wally in the sauna it's a perfect chill experience. PEACE!

Fantastic experience: We visited this afternoon for a swim on holiday. The pool and changing area was beautifully clean, the staff were very friendly and helpful, visiting with children and another adult with disabilities can be a challenge but not today! What a wonderful team a real hidden gem.

Fantastic experience: A lovely clean pool with a lovely friendly staff force that are all incredible!! The facilities are amazing at a competitive price and the staff are very helpful and always happy to chat. 10/10 would highly reccomend!

Positive experience: Look, it's a very average and small gym. If you want something light, then this is okay I guess, and the location is pleasant. The staff are very disengaged and often rude. They would routinely not even speak to me when I handed them my membership card, or they just grunted at me. To be fair, the female staff aren't too bad, but the men just have a really bad attitude. The bald older guy is the worst. The gym often runs out of flannel wipes and I went to reception to ask for more. The bald guy said "we dont have anything for you" in a very cold way. I said "well I dont want to leave sweat on the machines -- do you have any paper towels?". The bald guy just shrugged. Perhaps the bald guy shouldn't be interacting with customers any more

Negative experience: Pay a high price to swim in a shallow sweaty chemical filled swamp... never again. Sauna wasn't even hot either... Reply to reply: with my lips tightly sealed I could taste the rankness of the water... its that dirty. There are pools in Newcastle like northumbria uni which are generally crystal clear and diametrically opposed to your mirky pool. Highly unreccomended and the reply does not change the reality

Negative experience: In response to the reply I received: Thank you for your response. I appreciate you taking the time to address my concerns. However, I would like to clarify a few points: 1. Shoe Policy: I understand the need to keep the changing rooms clean, but my concern is more about the hygiene of having to walk through wet areas with bare feet, especially when cleanliness is already an issue. As well as the inconvenience caused by having to remove shoes and sock’s constantly. Perhaps providing shoe covers or some form of path would be more hygienic for everyone. Having reception staff say “we have cut down on cleaning” isn’t what you want to hear. 2. Equipment Condition: While the equipment may be new, I’ve noticed that some machines are stiff and difficult to use, or make noises which indicate that there may be a maintenance issue or just something that needs adjustment. 3. Operating Hours: My comment about early closures was based on my experience, which may have been during holiday hours or exceptions. It would be helpful if holiday hours were communicated more clearly to avoid any confusion. For example, I arrived on a Sunday at 16:25 and the doors were locked - there were two other people having the exact same issue so evidently there is confusion. This happened on 2 or 3 occasions not just once. 4. Temperature and Air Conditioning: The air conditioning might be new, but during my visits, it hasn’t felt sufficient to keep the gym at a comfortable temperature. If possible, please look into ensuring that the temperature is more consistently regulated. Finally, I found the tone of your response to be quite dismissive and unprofessional, particularly with the repeated use of the word "hardly." While I understand the need to defend your facility, it’s important to acknowledge customer concerns without undermining them. A more constructive and respectful response would go a long way in maintaining a positive relationship with your members who are evidently frustrated when paying for a service that isn’t up to standard. If your customers are telling you the gym and pool is unhygienic (as many of the reviews state) maybe stop telling your customers they are wrong, take the feedback and use it productively. Thanks! Probably the worst gym I’ve ever been to. So unhygienic it’s beyond a joke, changing rooms absolutely stink of urine. Also now have to take your shoes off to get to one part of the gym which then leaves your feet soaking wet as you have to walk through the changing rooms/ pool because they’ve “cut back on cleaning” to Quote one of the guys on reception. Don’t really know how it’s possible to cut back anymore than it already was. Also not what you want to hear from your gym when gyms are notorious for bacteria and germs anyway. Had to go and get my own shoe covers because I think it’s disgusting having to take my shoes and socks off twice to get in and out of the gym and walk through the grim changing rooms. Equipment is poorly maintained and stiff. Not worth the price at all. Also close early all the time so you’ll arrive to do a session and it’s already closed. Both sections of gym boiling hot also with barely any, if any at all air conditioning .

Fantastic experience: Amazing establishment absolutely love the gym staff are class and good craic

Fantastic experience: The swimming pool is immaculate and the facility is great. The lessons are brilliant for all ages. I can highly recommend Jesmond swimming pool for all ages.

Fantastic experience: I ❤️Jesmond pool

Negative experience: Absolutely diabolical establishment. I’m a youth worker and we brought a group of young people here which was booked over the phone with the manager. As soon as we got there and he saw us he said he couldn’t allow a huge group in due to “anti social behaviour”. He continued to be incredibly rude and obnoxious and made it his prerogative to come off the reception and watch us like hawks for the full session in the pool. The facilities stink of urine and are absolutely disgusting for the price of the pool session. I would not take the young people to somewhere to be judged by bigoted idiots again.

Negative experience: this place is absolutely disgusting wouldn’t even give it 1 star tbh. the reception man is absolutely awful the attitude he has is disgraceful and the changing pools absolutely reek. the hygiene is horrendous and i will not be returning. i will be telling relatives and other people in the public that its not recommended AT ALL

Positive experience: Not bad if you dont drive as you can't park any where.

Fantastic experience: I was lucky to receive 5 swimming lessons as a gift. Whilst I can swim, I had no stamina and was not comfortable out of my depth Alex proved a patient teacher, advising on breathing and stroke techniques but also challenged me sufficiently to take me out of my comfort zone so I can now swim with more confidence, can tread water and swim in "the deep end ".

Negative experience: Horrible, Horrible, horrible.... The reception people should know how to speak and behave.... The way they showed their attitude was very inappropriate.... They don't bother about customer care... They need some classes how to speak with their customers. I had a very bad experience with them.

Fantastic experience: Excellent pool and some lovely staff. I've been going to this pool on and off for many years and compared to some others it's well run, reasonable prices lean. The couple of negative reviews are unfair in. My opinion.

Negative experience: This place was soooooo dirty it was unreal!! After paying the best part of £6 for a swim and sauna (rip off), I was at least expecting a hygienic environment… Alas- wrong. The changing rooms were flooded with water and SO dirty! The lockers are 20p which is a shame if you don’t bring change around anymore like the majority of people under 60 - and- your buggered if you want to actually access your locker as then, that’s another 20p. This made the shower situation a little precarious, as the whole time I was wondering if my items would be stolen. The pool itself is ok. Water was a bit fresh but not awful. We paid for the sauna access and hence had to wear the most grotty dirty rubber wristbands. The sauna and steam room itself was absolutely packed! No space available at all and the people weren’t moving. Gutted as we paid £6 for this “luxury”. They were ok. Cleaninf could be improved, however an individual was pouring Olbas Oil in the steam room which altered my experience for sure…. The poolside itself is littered and dirty. The floor is soaking it’s such a danger hazard. Overall, I won’t be returning. For the location, size and price I was expecting big things and cleanliness. However, this was an enjoyable experience and probably the worst pools I’ve ever visited and I live in Northamptonshire so that says something !

Negative experience: The lifeguards are all great but the reception man is very rude. The miserable gatekeeper to the jesmond pool, what a shame, even a simple thank-you would be sufficient. Makes one feel totally unwelcome

Fantastic experience: Great pool, gym & steam room facilities. Nice friendly staff. All at a good price.

Fantastic experience: The music was brilliant during chill hour on Friday 21/04/23, super relaxing and the bigger speaker really was wonderful. The Pink Floyd song selections were a touch of class and made my sauna session ultra zen after a long workout. Staff are kind as I left my phone and they waited for me to comeback before close which I really appreciate. 100% recommend.

Positive experience: It's a good pool. Lots of varied activities.

Fantastic experience: Always loved Jesmond pool and gym but they’ve recently made even more of an effort with changing room cleanliness and the new steam room and sauna layout is brilliant!

Negative experience: Rude staff and unfriendly on the phone!!! Shame on this facility!

Negative experience: Very friendly staff. I enjoy Friday evening swims. Sue.

Negative experience: Pros - offers adult lessons, staff are nice enough, prices are reasonable Cons - the changing rooms are disgusting in a way that has nothing to do with the age of the building. The walls are stained, there are tons of drain flies, the floors are filthy, the shower drains back up leaving a pool of dirty water at your feet when you shower and there has been blood on the walls on two occasions. The hygiene is really unacceptable and this really needs to be addressed.

Positive experience: Fine gym with the most important equipments to do your workout. The swimming pool is quite good and the memberships are well priced. I didn’t like how there isn’t much headroom for workouts that include jumping. Also, I wish that there was cellular service, because once you’re down, you’re cut from the world.

Positive experience: Nice pool with 2 slow/fast swimming lanes with pretty clean facilities and a good price, About £4 for an under 18 for 3 hours

Positive experience: Changing rooms very basic and the pool has been so cold that my son is like an ice block for a good hour after he gets out. He has already improved massively in the water these past few weeks with just a few basic techniques so can't fault that side of things.

Positive experience: Used it for one session, not really a proper weight lifting gym as dumbells only got to 32kg and no proper flat benches for bench press. More like a well equipped hotel gym

Fantastic experience: Brilliant. Haven't been swimming for ages. The pool and changing rooms are great and the staff are lovely and friendly. I didn't have 20p for the locker so remember to one or get change at front desk.

Fantastic experience: Loved the music in chill out session, great music from Scott as per usual.

Fantastic experience: Great local leisure facility.

Fantastic experience: 1st time in pool. Spotlessly clean ,Sauna and steam rooms I will be back tomorrow

Fantastic experience: I've now been training with Craig, one of the two PTs at the Jesmond Pool gym for two months now. Originally my plan was just to do a few sessions to get back in the rhythm and then start by myself but ive been enjoying the sessions so much, i decided to go for my 3rd cycle of 10 sessions! Craig is an amazing training, no session is the same as another. He will personalise every session based on your level and what you look to achieve. Every session he will look to push you a little further and make progress. I truly look forward to training makes me feel so good, and I can truly see the difference in my resilience in the training sessions.

Positive experience: Reasonably priced, changing tables for babies which made taking my daughter straightforward. The changing rooms were not very clean (loads of hair/lint on the floors and around the drains), the pool was a bit tricky getting in and out due to the high edge, especially with a baby. It was warm enough. The showers were very hot and only come on for about 3 seconds at a time. Not my favourite in the area, I think I'll stick with Northumbria.

Fantastic experience: A very nice around 25m pool with two lanes and the rest is for general swimming. There is a gym downstairs for weights and strength training machines with more of a cross fit setup which does include a body weight treadmill and a sled which not many gyms I have seen have. This is accessed via the pool area and you can train while looking out onto the street. The staff are also very nice and friendly.

Positive experience: Nice but very small place for the higher price and sometimes not very friendly place

Fantastic experience: Great place, very friendly staff

Fantastic experience: Great pool, friendly and helpful staff.

Fantastic experience: Adult Swimming teachers for us beginners are really helpful and understanding, and they teach really well!

Fantastic experience: Really friendly staff and grait swimming poll and sauna

Negative experience: It's a very cliquey atmosphere, staff seem rude when you turn up for the chill out session as if you're forcing them to stay til close? But are so friendly to certain regular members Parking is limited due to its location in Jesmond. Lockers charge you 20p each time you lock so make sure you get everything out you will need. Equally staff seem happy for you to leave belongings at the side of the pool when it's quiet. Cleaning is a bit 50:50 pool is clean. Changing rooms could do with a refresh. Gym is tiny and a bit pointless to be honest.

Negative experience: The worst pool ever!! Do not go in my opinion. The water is always cold and the hygiene is horrible and not any thing for good playing time.

Fantastic experience: Convenient sauna location

Fantastic experience: Loving a swim here then a sauna pleasant place I avoid the times when swimming lessons are on.

Fantastic experience: Lovely pool, friendly helpful staff. Always clean. Nice looking gym, although I. Haven't used it myself and an activity room packed with great sessions, nice smaller size for a younger child's party.

Fantastic experience: My grandson is learning to swim here at the moment he has picked it up fast due to the great staff

Negative experience: Small pool bit boring x

Fantastic experience: Great facilities and staff are lovely

Fantastic experience: staff great butr i like facilitiy to big bigger

Negative experience: Had forgotten my flip flops ,dirt from outside carried into changing area and shower facilities by parents who accompany their kids....floor manky,why are there no disposable overshoes available? No hairdryer available,When I asked at reception why ,told that female and male changing areas had swapped.

Negative experience: Very poor swimming pool not clean at all the changing area not clean the lockers are very small

Negative experience: V. frustrating. Took my 1 year old today and the changing facilities were terrible. No changing units or bins for nappies/wipes - had to perch him on the knee high seats to get changed. The lockers are about 4inches wide too. So in short, don't go if you have a young family.

Positive experience: I dropped my daughter for a birthday party. Good place

Fantastic experience: Love the chill out session on an evening.

Fantastic experience: Great staff and a decent pool, sauna and steam room

Fantastic experience: Excellent service. Was there for physio and was impressed with the staff.

Negative experience: The most dirty swimming pool I have ever visited

Negative experience: Dreadful experience. Was told the private lessons were £16 per hour and each lesson is half an hour. Just at stage of paying when I'm told it's actually £16 per lesson. I accept it's easy to make a mistake but refusing the honour the first price as a gesture of goodwill is such terrible customer service.

Negative experience: Not for father and daughter swimming. No family change facility or private booths took my 5 year old at 16:00 and the only area she would be able to stand was closed disappointed will not return

Fantastic experience: Daughter loves it here taking swimming lessons leaders all great with kids

Fantastic experience: Lovely pool, community run, great facilities including sauna

Positive experience: Great new free weights now..

Negative experience: A well located gym which is massively let down by poor facilities, and in dire need of investment and renovation. Review in brief: Positives - Pool and gym included in membership - Large changing room - Hot showers - Convenient location - Sauna & Steam-room - Friendly staff - No contract required - Social enterprise, rather than big corporation (if that matters to you) Negatives - Small pool with only 2 lanes and very limited public use times - Tiny gym - Extremely limited range of equipment (no bench press, squat rack, only 1 bench, etc) - Worn out, out-of-date facilities and building - Pay to use lockers - Free classes not included in membership - Must pay for a gym induction - Crowded pool Review in full: Jesmond Pool should be perfect for Jesmond residents' fitness, due to its location and price. In reality it's a sad disappointment, with most facilities in dire need of attention. Users have the choice of peak or off-peak monthly membership, which includes pool and gym use, which is non-contract, which is good for people who don't want to commit. There's also a pay-per-use option, but as is normally the case, this is really expensive. Note that classes are discounted, but not free with a membership. The changing rooms are spacious with lots of lockers and benches, as well as hot showers, and all are kept relatively clean. However, the changing facilities are shared between swimmers and gym users, so the floor is always wet. Additionally, the lockers cost per-use, meaning they are never used, and people just take their bags pool-side or into the gym. The pool is a good length, but only has two lanes (one fast, one slow), which is frustrating when the pool gets busy. The water and pool itself is relatively clean. Unfortunately, the pool timetable is very restricting, and changes without warning. Priority is given to local schools who rent the whole pool out, which is understandable, but in November a timetable change reduced public swimming time by 1 hours per day - with no warning, or mention from staff. The saving grace of the pool is the steam room and sauna, which in larger gyms normally cost extra, but are included in membership at Jesmond Pool. Unlike the pool, the gym has no saving grace. There is an extremely limited range of equipment, making any complete workout virtually impossible. There are 4 treadmills and 4 cross-trainers, and 2 rowing machines, but I've never seen a gym without a complete range of weights, a bench press, a squat rack, and only 1 weights bench. Those facilities which do exist are mostly worn-out and out-dated: the weights bench is held together with duct-tape, the tricep extension is missing the pads, you get the picture. The gym itself is dark and grim, with most of the ceiling tiles stained or missing. The website boasts "2 gyms", but don't be fooled, the second gym is even more outdated hydraulic-resistance equipment, the kind most gyms replaced before the turn of the millennia. I've used a lot of gyms, both in Newcastle and elsewhere and, sadly, this one takes the biscuit. With gyms like Eldon Square getting a full renovation, and a new Pure Gym opening in the centre, a gym like this will need a severe update to remain viable. I've been told by staff, on numerous occasions, new equipment is coming, but in the six months since my first visit I've never seen new equipment.

Positive experience: very clean pool and warm to

Positive experience: It is nice and Clean pool, but some time the lesson are take a lot lane. but over all this pool are amazing.