I come down at 12pm for the aqua challenge at 2pm even that iso that I could go in for a free swim before hand but I had wight around a round for 2 hours as I can't go into the pools witH out life jacket on etc As I no confidence into water so I need I life jackets to swim even that i was told it would be ok on the day they said I could not use it land did not even off me a swim belt etc that I could used instead and I now wish If bought my wheelchair with me and then some might have about me Good job that they life jackets for the aqua challenge or I would I have asked for me money back read more

When this opened (about 1989 i think) it was state of the art. Sadly it hasn't been very well looked after and is showing it's age. The last few times i've been there with the kids the water has been cold, some or other facility has been unavailable or something along those lines. As a student, it's relatively cheap to get in but that's pretty much the only good point for me. That said, my kids thoroughly enjoy it every time they go. The people that currently run the centre on behalf of the council are undertaking a renovation program so once that is completed, i'll revise my review if warranted. read more

This could be very much better than it is.. Changing rooms vary in cleanliness from mildly dirty and scummy to very dirty with plasters on the floor. Activities on offer appear reasonable. Scumline often seen around the water. if you are lucky you may even have a bobbing malteser (or poo) pass you nearby!! Slides open at various times, as do the pools, which are normally at times when i cant get there! Water always feels quite cool, not the best place to go to locally, but with the renovation i look forward to a state of the art swimming center read more

This is a large fun pool with slides and wave machine, three training pools and a diving pool. My kids learnt to swim here, they do intensive courses as well as once a week lessons. There is a re-fitted gym, and a large hall that hosts a roller disco every Sunday afternoon. This is the best bit as far as I am concerned as it is only £2 and no parking charge. The pool changing rooms are supposed to be being re-done - they are dirty, the toilets are horrid and the showers are not nice. Don't swim there, go to the roller disco! read more

I think Princess Diana (RIP) opened this place many years ago, and it was magnificent, however, it has declined over the years, to the point of where it is now. There are a selection of pools the gala pool, which is rare to swim the whole length due to lessons, etc, the diving pool, which is rarely open, the kids pool, again which is rarely open and the fun pool which is open and has a water slide. Also a gym on site at reasonable cost. Free parking here. Lots of sessions and events go on here, Sovereign tumblers is great value for children and i believe there is a free swim session at some point during the week for those on a low income. Changing rooms are a disgrace, personally i would rather get changed on the roundabout outside, as they are dirty, cold and yick. The cafe does serve some delicious smoothies and fresh juices, at a price though! read more

This pool has really poor cleanliness, baby changing area consists of a communal room with 2 or 3 changing tables, the bins are always overflowing and there are nappies and plasters lying around. You are lucky if there is a seat on your toilet and a door to close. When I have been here recently it only ever seems to have the main pool open. The kids seem to like the pool and the slide when it is open. The water is a bit cold so young kids won't stay in long. The staff are rude and unhelpful, especially reception and management seemingly wanting to cause you problems, not help. They have a policy of how many kids under a certain age you can take in so if you have 2 or more, you should ring to check you will be allowed in, or you might be turned away - ridiculous! Food and drinks are overpriced so take your own. This pool is undergoing a very slow re-rurbishment, with that, some staff training and a review of some stupid policies, it could become a great pool, I will review this if and whent that happens! read more

I am a fully paid up member for the swimming pool, and am on my second year. First I must say that the staff are always kind and polite However, I would hate to see the inside of their homes though as they must be filthy, after all their work place is. The Gala pool has a line of scum around it, the floors in the changing rooms are moped regularly, but the edges and corners and drains and walls, well these are good breading grounds for germs and bacteria. The temperature of the gala pool has improved a little but is still cold. I know that many people use it for training and fitness, as do I, but those with any disability such as arthritis or heart conditions will find the cold off putting to say the least. And after talking to a manager I was told that those training would dehydrate if the water was too warm. Can they not do what the rest of us do, take a bottle of water to the poolside and drink when needed. We are being encouraged to exercise more as we get older, and lets be fair, the south east has one of the highest numbers of older people than any where else in the country. Yet we are subjected to cold temperatures for swimming. Remembering that this is all the exercise some can do and they are unable to do it as the water is too COLD. Warmer water will encourage more people to use the pool, and would offset any extra cost in heating, and the fitter older generation will be less of a burden on the social services and healthcare systems. The cafe is a good idea, but could some thought go into what they are serving.CHIPS!!! surely we are encouraging healthy eating. When the next round of improvements are made, a little thought into individual cubicles for showering would also be nice, along with hairdryers that are not constantly out of use, or waiting for repair. I know the private clubs are so much nicer to visit as their facilities are kept up to scratch, and I also know that their members pay a lot more to use them. However, cleanliness, I was always told was next to Godliness and was something we should all strive for. Your staff are good, kind, considerate and more than helpful, is it not time management provided them with the encouragement and tools to make the center more amenable to mothers with young children, the older generation, both of whom are susceptible to infections, along with the general public who would love to be able to use a clean facility. read more

Sovereign Centre? Don't get me started. Oh, ok then. I refer to it as 'Dirty Pool' because that's the most succinct way to describe it. From the pigeon poop that lines the pavement all the way along the side of the building up to the doors, all the way to the filthy floors around the cafe and on into the smelly changing rooms with their overflowing nappy bins. The whole place is unbelievably rancid and awful. Don't take my word for it, ask anyone who's been there. I have yet to meet anyone who doesn't agree at least a little bit. It underwent a bit of refurbishment a couple of years ago and some good work was done - new changing rooms (still very dingy though), new showers (not enough of them and don't get cleaned very often) but the same basic lack of hygeine persists. The worst thing is that whoever designed the pool rather cleverly created a thoroughfare from the pigeon mess straight through the cafe area, right through the point where most people go in and out of the 'fun' pool. So all the muck from peoples' shoes gets trodden straight into the pool by swimmers. I was stunned by this when I first visited the pool but apparently no-one who works there sees it as a problem. Rubbish and muck regularly makes its way into the water as people coming in from outside walk right in front of the steps down to the pool while the swimmers walk across that path, taking all the muck down into the water with them. It's ridiculous. Still, I go there twice a week as it's the closest one to where I live. Oh p.s. the cafe is rubbish too. Weird that for a 'health' destination, they only sell deep-fried food and cans of coke. Whose idea was that? read more

I was a Joiner working on the centre in 1998. The company who completed all the Joinery work was Second City Shop fitters from Stockport. we all stayed in a B&B in Latimer road. read more

To be honest, I have not had any problems with them, until I had an operation and was advised by my surgeon to stop any physical exercise for at least 4 weeks. The firts thing I did was contacting the gym and letting them know. They told me I could freeze the membership for a month, with no problem, but I had to pop in with a written letter to this effect. I prepared a letter and drove to the gym straight away, 9 days before the end of the month. In reception they told me that I had to go into the gym and they would do it all for me there. When I went into the office of the gym, I waited and waited for someone, but all staff was busy. Nobody there to help. I eventually interrupted one of the trainers to explain my problem, and I was told he was busy and I had to talk to the other trainer. I interrupted the other trainer, and she also said that she could not do what I needed and she was busy carrying out a trining programme. However, she was pleasant and took my letter and promised that somebody would call me the following day. Nobody called me the following day. 2 days later I called again to ensure that the freeze of my membership had been actioned. I was told that it had not been done and I was too late to stop the direct debit for the following month. I have now been told that I must phone again on Monday and try to sort it out then and they have no idea where my letter is. After 3 phone calls, 1 letter and 1 visit after having a surgical operation (should be resting instead of running around to the mercy of my gym) I am no closer to get this resolved. I am so disapointed with the customer service and treatment received, specially at this difficult time, that I will probably won't renew my membership at the end of the contract. I thought the customer was the one receiving the service, not providing it!! It is a shame, because I did like the gym. Sovereign Centre, please, change the way you treat your customers and members, it is not good!! you will lose me just because of this. Members should be your priority, and I do not work for you, you should be working for me!! Thanks read more