I'm really caught here: should I focus on the good or the bad?!
The good: historical setting for a swim - it's aged but it has character. Particularly the individual changing cabins along each side of the pool. The atmosphere is good and everything feels very relaxed. Price is incredibly good value, especially if you are an Ixelles resident. The people is about 25 meters (?) with the shallow end always closed off for kids, meaning the lanes are shorter. When the sun shines through the roof of this place it looks amazing. Pity more of the roof wasn't transparent.
The bad: first and foremost - the opening hours. Not open ANY evening time except Mondays. As a consequence, Monday evening is absolutely packed and not much fun. How I wish they would offer even one more evening during the week...there's clearly huge demand for it.
Also, although some lanes exist, they are not organised. Many times kids are free to play right in the middle of a lane with people doing speedy laps, and the lifeguards are oblivious despite being right there under their nose. Don't even think of finding the lanes divided by speed, just prey you don't find someone doing a lazy backcrawl in yours.
Showers and changing rooms are ok - they are dated but if you consider the value of the place you can't really complain. I want to love this place, but given it's almost impossible for anyone with a day job to make it here during the week, that's proved tough. Still - the best option for swimming in the area.
Possibly closing for renovations in the near future? Not sure. read more