Will swimming pools ever drop timed slots?

[FlySwimmer]

Before Covid, two pools I used regularly didn’t operate timed slots. They’re both pretty large so nearly always had a couple of lanes earmarked for fitness swimming, and you could basically stay as long as you liked within the designated ‘swim for fitness’ hours, e.g. 12-4. Now, both pools have 50-minute slots you have to pre-book. One I haven’t used for a good while so I don’t know how strict they are in enforcing it, we’ll see.

I would really like timed slots to go. I don’t want to stay for hours, but I’d like a bit longer than 50 minutes, especially as in some places the 50 minutes apparently includes showering/changing time! Especially during quieter times of the day, it feels like pools are taking the piss a bit now. Does anyone feel the same way?

At ours is cheaper to prebook but you can turn up and queue. But its only open for 90min-2hrs at a time anyway.

Only one pool has a family swim after school, the others is Sundays only. Adult only in evenings. Famjlys at lunch time, lessons or adults only rest of time.

We are really well served with council pools - three/four big ones within 5-20min drive.

they have all gone back to pre covid timetables with no booking and stay more or less as long as you like. Not sure exactly when but definitely been ‘normal’ for at least 6 months. I would complain at this point if you are still restricted to short sessions.

Yes, the booking app is an extra level of annoyance for me too (different app and reasons though). I am an adult member the centre's swim school, and the main perk is full swim membership. However, as it is a perk and I'm on the system as AquaEd rather than a member, I can only book and swim for free if I call up to book/do it in person at the desk. If I book via the app I get charged Joe Public's rate. The receptionist always feels the need to explain that "you can just book using the app you know?". No, I can't. It usually takes several goes to get through on the phone too 😏

Our council pools are still doing it. They blow whistle after 50 mins and empty the pool. You can't get a shower, as everyone needs them at same time, unless you cut your session even shorter. Changing room floors are dirtier too. Just dreadful.

I actually much prefer this. Our council is keeping it and I'm glad, far far less queuing is my experience.

We can turn up but lane swimming is in hour slots, free swimming is 4 hours. It's the same as pre covid now

Ours dropped timed slots ages ago, which is great. I think they still have them for family swims, because it gets so busy, but normal lane swimming is no booking. I only have to book for aquafit classes now.

I agree with you. I got a hotel pool membership for exactly the same reason. My ideal swim is about 1 hr 15 but the local leisure centre only lets me in for 45 mins max.
No lanes in the hotel pool but it’s usually quiet enough if I pick my time.
I can’t understand why these places haven’t gone back to normal now, our local soft play is the same with timed slots so people just go elsewhere!

They are so annoying - also I felt terribly sorry for this poor elderly man who turned up to swim last week. They made him download the app to book a slot & pay. Staff were kind & helpful but even so We'd been in the water for about 45 mins before he got in.
Tbh - ours aren't fully enforced unless it's busy, and they are every 10 mins but it just feels like unnecessary control....

Side issue but I wish they'd get rid of pre booking at the local council dump/recycling place around. Similarly, I think this will stay because the council prefer it
Our council has been back to normal for months. I prefer the pre book slots as ours is always busy or it seems to randomly shut while they shuffle skips around and queues build up.

All our council run swimming pools, exercise classes, running tracks, tennis courts, golf courses etc are running as they did pre covid, although I must admit I miss the pre booked slots. There is a big swimming gala at our leisure centre today with tombola's ,raffles and all sorts going on. Family fun time has been back for ages with the inflatables etc.

I'm so fed up of it. My daughter has lessons at a pool, so she can go for free during their "just turn up and swim" sessions. The timing of these sessions - between 11am and 3pm weekdays in term time. When she is at school.

All the weekend and holidays sessions are bookable time slots for "family fun" and she isn't able to go for free to these because the booking system won't let you add a free member child (bullshit)

The soft play slots are even more bizarre. Previously we would have stayed a few hours including having lunch there. With the slots DCs are not willing to lose any play time to snacks, let alone a meal, so we spend nothing more than the entrance fee (plus go less frequently as it is now pretty poor value for money). We recently went to one where there was just us and 2 other families there. They kicked us out after our short slot with no new customers queuing for the next session. It was lunchtime, and I had just been looking down the menu assuming they wouldn't be strict on slots when it's dead any more. We wouldn't have spent loads, but surely even £20 extra in the till is better than nothing. Multiply that up across other families on different days (because I'm sure we're not the only ones no longer eating there to maximise play time), and it must be a big chunk of their income lost.