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Newbold Comyn Leisure Centre Re-OpeningToday, Monday 21st August 2017, the newly refurbished Newbold Comyn Leisure Centre re-opened the first phase of it’s revamp, the swimming pool and fitness facilities. I took my children (age 4 & 8) to see what improvements had been made and what is now on offer for local families.

If you had been a member of our support and advice group Mum Knows Best Warwickshire last year, you wouldn’t have escaped the constant criticism of the previous Newbold Comyn Swimming Pool. There were almost daily complaints from a hygiene point of view, with lots of parents complaining of dirty changing areas and poor staff management.

The centre has been closed since the beginning of the year along with St Nicholas Leisure Centre, which caused problems for many local families including our daughter whose school was forced to cancel swimming lessons, something she had been looking forward to for the entire previous school year. The council explained the dual closure would “ensure that the works would be completed much quicker and reopen brand new, state of the art facilities by the end of the year.” I’m sure there are local families who still disagree with the plans to do that simultaneously but hey, who are we to comment?

The centres are still under council control, but are now managed by Everyone Active, who will also be the management partner for St Nicholas Park Leisure centres, as well as Abbey Fields Swimming Pool, Castle Farm Recreation Centre, Meadow Community Sports Centre and John Atkinson Sports Centre as of 1st June this year. The £14.5 million refurbishment and improvement programmes at Newbold Comyn and St Nicholas Park are now almost complete and we went to see what Newbold Comyn has to offer us as local parents now in it’s first phase opening.

The Newbold Comyn Leisure Centre swimming pool boasts brand new 100 station gym and fitness studios and opens currently with temporary reception area and temporary overflow changing provision, until the completion of the village changing facilities and sports hall in Spring 2018.

Parking is currently at the car park which serves The Newbold Comyn Arms, families will need to cross the road to access the reception at the front of the building until the new carpark is complete. There is no pedestrian crossing.

In the temporary reception area are staffed information desks, two vending machines with drinks and snacks and ‘Zoggs’ stands with goggles and floats etc available to purchase.

The female changing rooms are straight ahead of you and you will need a NEW £1 coin to use the lockers. I’ve included pictures below to give you an idea of locker size. There are communal showers and two shower cubicles with doors. There are also three toilets (see images below). There is a small area with two hairdryers and space for another. The locker area has a bench directly in front of the lockers, meaning if two people have lockers nearby it would be hard to change in the same area, I can see this being an issue at busy times especially if you have a family. The addition of a central benched area would have been more useful here allowing people space to put their belongings. There is one small plastic baby changing table and some benches in front of pegs too. These changing rooms were clean when we visited though there was only one bin which is a yellow one, not a normal one.

It’s not clear at the time of publishing if these changing rooms are temporary, I am awaiting clarification on this. It has been rumoured that changing rooms will be unisex at some point but at the moment male and female changing is separate.

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Moving on to the pool area. This is accessed from the changing rooms, down a long slope. The flume slide is at the top of this slope (currently shut – opening in two weeks according to staff). The flume is usable to children over 1 metre tall and adults cannot go down with children, there are also no goggles or arm bands allowed on the flume so if your child can’t swim un-aided they won’t be able to use it unless maybe they have a floatation jacket, though that would need to be confirmed.
Newbold Comyn Leisure Centre Re-Opening Newbold Comyn Leisure Centre Re-Opening
There are two pools at Newbold Comyn Leisure Centre, the first at the bottom of the access slope is the children’s pool which the flume lands into (far too close to the wall in my opinion). There is also sloped access to this pool, the slope is steep and smaller children and toddlers will need a firm adult hand to stop them from slipping over on entry to the pool. Alongside this pool to the bottom left of the image below is a Jacuzzi pool which children are not permitted to enter. There were floats available when we visited and the pool was warmish. The staff told me the temperature was around 30 degrees, though I would suggest it wasn’t up to this temperature today and a couple with a small baby left after ten minutes as it was too cold for their little one. My children were constantly swimming so didn’t seem to notice the temperature really so I would say it’s fine for more active children but perhaps not small babies. The depth of this smaller pool is 1metre and slightly shallower near the sloped entry.

Ratios – 1 adult : 2 Under 8 Year olds (confined by the leisure centre)

Next to the children’s pool is a larger pool 25 metres long with 6 lanes and a timer clock for more advanced swimmers. I presume this is where classes will take place. There is also a tiered viewing area to the left of this pool. No diving is permitted in either pool.
Some improvements need to be made here, there ought to be hanging space for towels as there is none currently, there is no clock at the moment and lastly there is only one poolside toilet which is a disabled toilet, not easy for families really who would have to walk all the way back round the pool and back into the changing rooms and through another door to access other toilets should the disabled toilet be occupied or out of action.
Newbold Comyn Leisure Centre Re-Opening
Prices for the centre are detailed on the link below or you can see some below. There are also membership options.
Swimming Prices
Adult Swim – £4.70
Child (under 18) – £3.00
Senior (60-66) – £3.00
Under 5’s – Free
Registered Essential Carer/ Helper – Free
Family Swim – £14.00
Adult Fun Swim – Floats and Inflatables – £5.00
Child Fun Swim – £3.50
Family Fun Swim – £15.50
Swim School Lessons – 
Child £5.95 per 30 min lesson
Adult £5.95  per 30 min lesson
One to One Private Swimming Lesson – £18.00
Two to One Private Swimming Lesson – £25.00

Concessions reduced prices:

  • Individuals in receipt of disability benefit
  • Individuals in receipt of job seekers allowance
  • Those not working in receipt of universal credit
  • Juniors – 5-17yrs (if parent is eligible for concessionary discounts)
  • Individuals in receipt of state pension
  • Students – full time any age

Today the staff were welcoming and friendly and the facilities were clean and fresh. I would recommend a visit, though I would suggest families with children similar age to mine would find managing the visit slightly easier than those with little ones due to the changing facilities.

Though I didn’t see the fitness facilities in depth today, the gym looks good and there seems to be a good offering of classes, including my favourite Les Mills classes. The second phase of the centre will also include a climbing wall which my children are most excited about! Newbold Comyn is also now offering swimming lessons which can be booked at the centre or by using the link below.

For more information you can visit the Everyone Active Website here or Call Newbold Comyn Leisure Centre on 01926 882083

Address:

Newbold Terrace East
Leamington Spa
CV32 4EW

Opening Hours

Monday – Friday: 06:30-22:00
Saturday: 07:00-18:00
Sunday: 07:00 – 21:45

If you have any questions please feel free to ask in the comments below or on any of my social channels. I have not been paid or asked to carry out this review.

Newbold Comyn Leisure Centre Re-Opening

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