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AIBU?

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Original poster

To wish you could still just turn up & swim

110 replies

Haveli · 18/05/2024 15:42

All of the pools local to me used to have smaller children's pools where you could just rock up, pay and swim. Now you have to book a session at specific times. Dd was desperate to go swimming today but nowhere has a session. There was one 2-3 but it was already gone 2 at this point.

I get that they have lessons on at certain times but I've checked and there's none this afternoon so just whyyyy.

AIBU to think this is just stupid and annoying that you cant just decide to go swimming anymore or am I missing something?

OP posts:
mitogoshi · 18/05/2024 16:16

Remember years ago we didn't have magic screens in our pockets and even credit cards weren't that common until late 80's

ILikePistachios · 18/05/2024 16:16

I agree, my local pool has set times for general swim, families and other groups, most sessions are 45 minutes long and you have to book on their app in advance, almost all the slots are taken on the day so you need to book at least 3 days beforehand if you want to go.

I've been looking around for other options but seems most are similar. I understand it's from a safety aspect, they also only have 1 pool so need to cater to every type of customer, I don't expect them to change anything but it's annoying.

mitogoshi · 18/05/2024 16:15

You can just turn up here but only if there's space. I can remember as a kid arriving at the pool being told it was full, the difference now is you can pre book if organised.

Silveroaks · 18/05/2024 16:15

Booking systems are much better i much prefer that most things now have to be pre booked

Octavia64 · 18/05/2024 16:15

They all went to a booking system during Covid and never seem to have gone back, I agree it's irritating,

MolkosTeenageAngst · 18/05/2024 16:14

I expect it’s because there will be a limit to how many people can be in the pool at once, health and safety rules and risk assessments will be stricter now than they were in the past. The booking system will be so that too many people don’t turn up at once, it would presumably be more annoying to get all the way to the pool only to be turned away on arrival because the pool is full than it is to look on the booking system and see that it’s fully booked whilst still at home.

fieldsofbutterflies · 18/05/2024 16:13

CountingCrones · 18/05/2024 16:13

It is so much better than turning up at the pool with young children and being turned away because the pool is already at capacity, believe me!

I'm sure pools never used to have to worry about capacity when I was younger!

CountingCrones · 18/05/2024 16:13

It is so much better than turning up at the pool with young children and being turned away because the pool is already at capacity, believe me!

parkrun500club · 18/05/2024 16:11

I think it depends on the pool. Our local one is run by Everyone Active and you can pre-book, but you can also turn up at reception and ask to go in. It's worth checking they're not fully booked beforehand. But if they are fully booked I agree it is annoying.

I am a planner, but it is things to do things on impulse from time to time!

soupfiend · 18/05/2024 15:52

I hate all this pre booking of anything to be honest

Can you use the main pool?

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