The Porchester Centre Review

Absolutely stunning, characterful, spacious venue. Perfect for weddings, charity events, concerts, filming and more! The staff were super friendly and helpful - nothing was too much trouble.

Don't come here if you want to swim. Those 2 pools are most of the time used by lessons. Only 2 lines most of times are open for swimmers and one of those two is for very slow swimmers. So very often you will be 7 swimmers by lines... And on top of that, the online agenda is never up to date. So when you expect 3 lines free for 1 hour, each time a lesson is reducing it... Very disappointed

Good location... Council gym with squash and other facilities

One of the worst gym of W2, machine doesn t work, very old, mostly used by the council people, service is like never been there. Don t waist your time going there. The pool is nice.

Amazing classes and so many machines. A great facility. Staff are also friendly.

I spoke to the manager there and she's awesome.

However, I remember the swim lessons were quite bad. (I did these 5 months ago). Once, a different instructor came it was much better, but the normal dude from Eastern Europe couldn't really speak English. By the time I heard this English, it was too late and I had paid for the minimum number of classes, which is 2 months (if not more)

Totally affordable. Great classes. Great location. Clean and has swim classes for my little one which is a plus. For anyone that likes group exercises (of which there are many avail) I had a 'Sculpt' class yesterday - Saturday 12th Jan at 5pm with Hisham and I have to say he is an AMAZING instructor and BY FAR the BEST I have ever come across. His smile, energy and very clear understanding of the group's needs and ability to connect was outstanding. If you get a chance def check out his class!!!

I may have missed it, but the website doesn't seem to tell punters that the main pool is closed at the moment. I felt conned, having booked and paid for a couple of sessions in advance, to find that I was expected to swim in the rather pathetic 20 metre pool. A waste of time for anyone who wants a decent lane swim. Push off from one end and you're halfway to the other.

Very disappointed with my experience as a potential new member. I have just moved to the area and was excited to learn a facility with squash AND a pool was just around the corner!

I may have unreasonable expectations for a club so please read with that in mind, however: upon entering the club I had to make my own way to reception. I know this might so trite, but I was obviously lost and looking around and wasn't even greeted by the people behind the desk. When I finally got there attention, I informed them I'm new to the area and want to investigate to see about joining. The first words out of the gents mouth were 'well membership is very busy but here, fill out this card'.

I started to complete the card expecting to get some questions about where I've moved from; how close am I; how did I hear about the gym; what am I looking for in a gym; but sadly the two people at reception began a horrible conversation about another person who works there with the one woman stating 'I wish he would get hit by a bus' (!), but then backed off stating there was a customer here so she shouldn't say anything else.

At that point, halfway through filling out my information card, I simply put the card and pen down and said 'I don't want to be around this at all' and walked out. No one tried to stop me or even apologize.

I can't even comment on what the gym looks like inside as I never got past the front door without having a horrible experience. Try Notting Hill Harbour Club just up the road. Much better staff and outstanding facilities.

Lovely swimming pools, even though the bottom of the swimming pool looks a little dirty. Sometimes it gets very crowded, 4 narrow lanes is not very practical I am scared of bumping into other swimmers and I hit my hands on the floating separation. I have been advising staff to tell people to swim in the right lane based on their speed but staff seems to ignoring and let people swimming wherever they want obstructing swimmers with faster pace . mmhhh....

Oddly antiquated with a 100 ft pool, but also has a 25m learning/teaching pool that is good for kids. Excellent, clean changing rooms. Parking is a nightmare, even on weekends.

I just wish i`d have given 0 stars!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I`ve been in this centre on last December as a membership.
The guy who ``explained`` to me how s working up monthly payments was very rude and he had let me keep waiting in the office for about half and hour! He even didnt apologize.

Changing room and restroom were terrible!
When next day ive decided to leave, ive called them explaining my situation about my deposit and my experience. When i said that i want my deposit back, she said ``The deposit won`t be refund! will be withing 7 days from the registration``. Then she hang up.
This people should have been working in farms

Excellent sports centre! Very knowledgeable and helpful staff. Would highly recommend this cente especially the gym. A much higher standard than other gyms in the area

Had a great experience for my first visit with two lovely ladies at reception and a gentleman in the membership office. They were all very friendly, patient and welcoming. I went at 10am and the gym was nicely quiet, the changing rooms were clean.

Actually a very well equipped gym, that is hardly ever busy, and doesn't cost a lot. The changing rooms are good too.

If you live nearby I'd strongly recommend it.

Worst customer service I've ever seen.

Absolute rubbish. Charged me incorrectly for two months and even though I showed every possible proof, they disappeared and never answered when I called or replied to my e-mails. Look for a different gym, there are WAY better ones out there.

Update: after mentioning making a complaint to The Ombudsman they magically called and refunded my money right away. What a coincidence.

Horrible and less than professional new staff.
I used and enjoyed the facilities for months. I loved it. Now a new company is running the place with the most unprofesional and rudest staff. They kept calling me to come and offer me a new deal. Once there, no one says hello becuase obviously their conversation is more important, as a client I love to wait and be ignored. A guy named colby, between sending messages on his phone offers me 50 pounds/month. He didn t showed me the improuvement to the place, didn t said why the raise in the price or what is included. When I said I wasn t convinced he just turn his back and kept messaging. He just let get to the exit alone which I found only because I know the place.
When I got home, He calls me again telling me to come visite....I realised he didn t even memorised or wright down my name.
Awful experience and there are so much better gyms around.

Nice local Gym and swimming pool. Very quiet for a Saturday afternoon

The worst team I have ever come cross ever in anywhere, any sector.
I am just speechless.
It seem they are there to be seen busy .. they don't care anything.
Oh wow!

Clean, well priced place to exercise in a lovely building

The gym is apparently not bad, but the bad commercial attention! Today I went to visit him and when I arrived, the two commercials in front of me arguing because neither wanted to attend me, in the end they teach me and when they informed me of prices, wishing that I was leaving, they did not even look at my face when answering my questions, they stayed looking at the computer. Disastrous!

It's pretty clean (I have no picture to show it sadly) one thing I hate is that people will undress infront of you and you will see things. Hence why the three stars. There needs to be a lot more changing rooms.

The worst place ever fix your timetable!! For the past week am walking up to the gym and it s closed when the website says it s open fix your timetable!!!!.Am sick of keep on going when it s closed. It waste my time for nothing

Sadly, the 30 metre pool is pretty much unusable for adults working 9-5 during the week, because they are now packing tons of children's swimming lessons into the hours when people would normally swim just before or just after work. The lanes leftover for adults are too crowded to swim in. Weekend access only.

Do not go in there and give your details to their sales team. I have been harassed for over two months, being called during my work meetings on four different occasions. Each time they do not take your number off the list. They are equivalent to spam!

Lovely swimming pool , the staff are friendly on the desk as are the poolside attendants , however , the three lanes have been narrowed to four (two medium swim lanes ) which makes no sense , plus as lovely as the poolside guys are , if you see a swimmer in the wrong lane please, please correct them, if a fellow swimmer does it , it looks confrontational, plus , London's Roma (gypsy) community seem to use the showers as a place to wash , in doing so , anti-social behaviour is rife ..actual begging in the changing rooms , the forcing of locked lockers , spitting on the floor and shaving in the basins , which IS a health hazard , and a new one now is them bringing their stereos into the changing rooms and everyone having to listen to their music at full blast , all in all , lovely staff , lovely pool ...just shame about some of the patrons

Wish all receptionists would be as polite & genuinely helpful as Beverley.

Today my kids had swimming lessons after swimming in shower on the floor tiny worms was there my kids was scary to in the shower also most of the time in the pool water is so cold not good for kids.

2 great pools a large 35 metre pool and a small teaching pool + a well equipped gym. Good value for money and in a great location.

Clean, not crowded, has all the gear without much of a wait

The gym is nice and they offer a lot of good classes. Some of the people working there (Laura, Hicham, or also Antonella at the front desk etc etc) are really great, they're experienced and fun at the same time.
The 3 stars instead of 5 are all due to some of the dudes working in the membership team, who have always made me feel like they were doing me a favour when talking with me.
People who can't interact with the customers properly shouldn't be the image of a company.

Excelent physiotherapy facility. Matt is great in listening and find out discomforts, distinctions, or painfull muscle/ligaments/ tendons. He explains back to customers the body biomechanics, always backed up by speciality literature and tests. Always recomand him.

I never saw a Gym so dirty, and smelling so bad. neither the air conditioner was On, and was 27 degrees out side.

The club manager is rude and unprofessional. I visited this afternoon to see the pool. I was waiting to see the pool as he has to show it apparently and he was chatting with a friend for half an hour about his marriage whilst custgomers were waiting to be seen.

Needs refurbishment. Quite expensive when entering on single tickets.

For the swimming pool I pay one entrance 7 pound. The price is good for the location in London and the swimming in big as well. The changing room clean as well, for the looker just 20 p and the will give back when you finish.

You get what you pay for.
Bottom line: Gym is OK for beginners on a budget, but definitely go elsewhere if you can afford it. The spa is awful; avoid it.

First, it's never a good start when staff tell you to not leave anything valuable in your locker because it will "most likely get nicked" and that others have had stuff stolen. Says something about the clientele...

Some of the staff are OK, some are quite grumpy and irritable, so just be warned. Good luck if you have an enquiry; there's usually a big queue at reception.

The gym equipment is average/OK. So that means mostly machines, and one whole rack for the club. They do have some free weights upstairs and some benches which is good. However, the gym can get pretty crowded, and you'll probably have to wait to use stuff / work-in sets.

The spa doesn't feel very clean. Not to mention that you can only go *every other day* because each day is single sex only (except Sunday).

Be prepared to see a lot of naked men in the spa; it's fully nude. Within 5 mins of being there, a strange man asked if I could give him a massage (?!). When I went into the sauna, I then saw naked men massaging other naked men -- I felt as if I had accidentally stepped into some homoerotic club against my will. I don't have an issue if one wants to do that in their own privacy, but I would prefer not to see it in a public facility.

Having been horrified in the sauna, I tried my luck with the steam room, which was full of loud raucous men (good luck trying to unwind after a workout). To make matters worse, naked men were sponging down another naked man on a table. Again, if that's your thing... good for you. But it's not for me, no thanks.

The whole experience was horrible. I couldn't wait to leave and never return.

Great leisure centre but very confusing with all the stairs and parts to the historical building. Good classes and great gym facilities maintained by Everyone Active. Professional staff and the equipment and place is kept in tip-top shape ( i believe it was recently upgraded).

I would recommend it and just around the corner their is a large Waitrose and of course Queens Way is also around the corner will it's eateries.

The gym is ok. Few personal trainers and some dumbbells missing on the racks but good machines.
The swimming pool is very dirty and both me and my boyfriend felt not very good after swimming there. Absolutely need more cleaning.
The building itself is quite good, but it definitely needs more polite and careful staff and cleaning.

The worse gym I've ever been!!! Highly unreccomend!!!!!

Toilet very dirty, shower super hot can t take shower there smell bad, machines dirty always too

Unreliable virtual classes - staff have forgotten to unlock the door or they fail to ensure the video is working before the class starts.

We used the smaller pool to take our daughter swimming . The changing area was dirty lots of hair on the floor. The pool area was in a worse state.
I used this pool when 20 years ago and it looks like nothing by the small pool has been updated or cleaned since. The sides of the pool was caked in green algea and the bottom on the pool was covered in sand and grit . Absolutely disgusting. Will not be using this facility again.

I've been a member of this gym for years. Today, I ended my membership. The reason: shockingly poor service and unprofessional behaviour from Yannick Mandarin. Please, GM Simon Plummer, you will continue losing customers if you allow your "managers" to yell at customers.

I went to use the pool for the first time today and I really enjoyed it here. The building is beautiful and has a lot of history but it is worth noting first of all that if you expect private gym standards then this is not the place for you - it's an old baths. That said the changing rooms are modern and clean with plenty of lockers and space to get changed, including a few cubicles.

I used the main pool and the water was perfect temperature and not over-chlorinated. There were only about 6 other people using the pool at lunchtime and I had the lane to myself for a bit! The tiles in the pool are old and some of the glaze is cracked and that has lead to discolouration but they are clean, the bottom of the pool was clean, not littered with the usual plasters and hairband detritus. The showers are hot but could do with staying on for a bit longer, you have to hold the button down constantly.

Finally, the receptionist was very friendly and attentive, even though she did try to give me the hard sell on membership she did it in a nice enough way that I didn't feel like running away.

I love this place! I use the swimming pool only. But I see how good the gym is too. To me it has been perfectly convenient for the past 6 months of subscription and 2 months of pay as you go. Clean water, well taken care of, good space for changing, v clean and hygienic atmosphere. Professional staff, and good price too. Allowing to pay as you go makes it quite special. A plus that is not found in many places.
What triggered me to write this review is a situation that showed me how great the management and he culture is in Porchester Center.. when on a busy unusual day, a swimming lady got upset for an unknown reason and shouted at me!! I don't know her. She may have anger issues, or may be racist (I am dressed as a Muslim) or may be was just stressed. anyway she shouted and she was wrong. She insisted that I get off her way although I was swimming in the right direction and lane. When I apologized and left her, she kept shouting.
The staff reaction was amazing! Although I chose to ignore the lady's attitude and move on, they voluntarily handled the case. I saw the observer go to her and discuss. She also shouted at him!! Later the supervisor came and had a discussion with her. Then took her away. During that one of the staff came to me while I was swimming and he apologized and confirmed that I am right and she is wrong. And later on another staff member came again to me and explained the exact procedure that took place to finish it. Including that she tried to escalate. But the higher management took the right side. The second guy apologized again.
Really, although I didn't ask for that or complain.. it makes a HUGE difference to see how keen the management is, to do what's right. And to protect their clients, and to keep it a professional safe peaceful fun atmosphere. Chapeaux. Big THANKS. And keep it up!

Rude staff!! Just tried to book squash as my membership covers it and he wouldn't let me book it even tho there was space. I will make a complaint!!

Good points: get a multi site membership and you get access to more classes available than at other gyms. Seymour gym, Little Venice centre and Moberly centre are nearby. Between them there s plenty of classes to go to within a mile radius. It s local, convenient for shops. You can do your grocery shopping on your way home at Waitrose and in fact I often see exercise class members there afterwards. You get to meet and talk to people in the local area and friendships have developed. Some good teachers are there. One of the cheaper gym memberships in the local area, but not the cheapest. Receptionists are nice, especially Antoinetta and Beverley. There s a high turnover of staff, some are nice. The building is historic and you see some old art nouveau architecture, especially in the spa.

My brand new iPhone was stolen from the lockers of the swimming pool as well as the phones of other members. When we reported this to the manager he didn t see to bother that much. And I was told by other members that this has happened before and the center has taken to action to ensure that the place is more secure (e.g. more CCTV cameras, posters on the wall to inform people about criminal activities on the premises, more secure lockers etc.). Really disappointed...

Beautiful swimming pool BUT....4 narrow lanes so not very practical as you tend to bump into other swimmers or hit your hand on the floating separation. Used to have only 3 lanes. Despite continuous complaints from regulars swimmers nothing is been done to restore it to 3 lanes. I blame poor management ( no common sense ) and the staff although friendly look really bored.

Recently refurbished and modern sports centre. Unfortunately only has one squash court which is the only facility that I've used, so it is often difficult to get a court.

One of the best swimming pools in London and one of the oldest.

This centre is inside a 1900s historical building, which is very nice and evocative. I've been using the swimming pool and I found the pool to be quite clean (despite no mandatory head cap). The staff could be more welcoming but the overall value for money is pretty good.

Big studio,nice experience specialy the staff, look after you,teach you well.

Definitely the worst gym I have ever attended.

Missing dumbbells are not replaced, hooks and equipment are frequently stolen, machines are often broken, we re advised to not to leave anything of value in the locker room, etc.

The gym is also dirty and poorly maintained.

There s no indoor shoe policy, and most people use the machines and different equipment without ever using a towel, and obviously, no one cleans their sweat after leaving their seat.

I go there because I don t have any other option, since it s the only gym near me that opens at 6am, and I can only go before work.

Not recommended. Avoid this place if possible.

Very dirty all the time full of cockroaches and worm in the shower room they should shut it and when I complained they said they don t have a cleaner not good for Kids I don t know how schools use it !!!

2 years ago I lived nearby and was a member when the Porchester Centre was a Better council owned centre. It was a lovely facility with modern features and character. I ve recently started working nearby in Paddington and have been swimming here weekly. Since Everyone Active have taken over they have totally let the site fall into disrepair.

The swimming pool is visibly dirty. The water is green and dirt and muck is in and around the pool. The showers also have black and green mildew on. I m a fit and healthy young man and keen swimmer. The last 2 swims I ve had at the porchester centre (in the last month) I ve had sickness and stomach upsets directly afterwards. This is very rare for me and the timing of sickness is always after swimming here. I m not the first to mention this. Which is worrying.

This site is a lovely site but it s falling deeply into disrepair under everyone active. I really hope that 1. Health and safety experts test the pool and take appropriate measures 2. The council re-takes ownership.

Such a shame to see this place ruined by lazy, unhelpful and cheap management.

The staff are slow to attend my requests to speak with the fitness team. The gym itself is decent but with puregym newly opened around the corner with brand new facilities and cheaper prices I know where I'll be joining.

I use this centre for my swimming training. The centre itself is quite nice and spacious.
The changing rooms are clean and spacious, unless you end up taking a shower after a kids swimming class. It can get really busy and noisy with moms and kids running around the changing room. The water in the actual pool is definitely not as clean I wished. Sometimes it is possible to see objects floating around that honestly make me sick. But hey, it s a really convenient location and the staff is really friendly. They should reduce the daily entrance ticket, given the poor quality standard of the water...

nice pool & instructors, did not receive receipt for direct debit

The gym side is recently refurbished and very well presented. However, the pool side changing room and pool are due a refurbishment as well! Nevertheless, great venue and the pool is in a beautiful room.

Just signed up at this gym for a gym and pool full access. On my 3rd day I tried to use part of the equipment however there was a personal training session going on and the trainer told me that I could not use that part for while they were working out and I had to wait until they finished because typically it was booked and unavailable to anyone else.So evem though I had times my work out and was rushing because I had to go to work I had to wait for 10 for them to finish. This is unbelievable and a breach of my contract with them and will be taking this legally.

Recently refurbished, great housekeeping and good value for money

Great location and equipment, the staff members are friendly.
And the toilets are super clean, unfortunately the space is a bit small, but still a great gym in my opinion.

Could be a bit tidier, especially the gym changing rooms.

Good teaching team for children's swimming lessons. Improved changing facilities but could be better. Lack of communication between front desk and poolside.

They recently refurbished the whole gym and have brand new equipment (free weights room, 2 cardio rooms, one quiet workout room, spin room) and also converted one of their studios into a hot yoga studio.

The gym facilities and equipement are fairly standard. There are even some squash courts. I wish the changerooms came with more privacy in the showers and proper ones where you could adjust the temperature of the water. A towel service would have been nice too.

This is the worst gym i have ever experienced! Words cannot describe how bad it is.

Firstly i was given false information when joining.
In my first week that i joined i was given incorrect information by several staff members and my card or booking account didn't work until i threatened to cancel my membership so someone sorted it out finally.
The machines in the gym are old and you can't get internet on them.
The trainers in there are so rude and act like they own the gym/won't let you use any of the equipment if they are doing a class.
The studio rooms are so small. When i did a cycling class i could literally feel peoples breath on me because they were so close. The air conditioning in the studio hasn't been working for 3 weeks and in my first week of being a member a class got cancelled, this has never happened to me anywhere else in 2 years.

There is not one good thing to say about this gym, everything about it is inconvenient and facilities and staff are awful.

Only joined to use the pool but they always book swimming lessons in the evening on weekdays so the lanes are overcrowded to the point where there's more than 6 to a lane at completely different speeds! I'm so upset that the last 3 times I've come here to go swimming I haven't been able to as there wasn't even any room for me to join!

Also they need a new cleaner, even though it's been refurbished the bathrooms already smell of mould, have flies and silver fish on the floor

Needs better management and pay more attention to its members.

Inspite of Covid regs the experience was great thanks to nice staff and good organisation. We were in a rush and our group was very well served. Special thanks to Ali.

It has a great gym and with a friendly staff as well

I wonder if you still work there Cida do financial and Lima personal because I worked there for some time and lost contact with them !!