From a visit to my Doctor, had a swift referral to BETTER. Then 2 days later got a phone call telling me all about it, then an appointment to see Tanya at the leisure centre. Tanya went through all... See more
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Location
Switch locationShibdon Road, NE21 5NW Blaydon-on-Tyne, England, GB
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The booking system is not fit for purpose when trying to book the site just clogs up and you can wait anything unto 10 minutes to find out if you have managed to get a booking and at 22.00 hours its... See more
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I use Blaydon Leisure Centre regularly, and have always been impressed by the friendly atmosphere in the place. The staff are very helpful and the range of fitness classes are excellent. I use these... See more
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Music that better use is not good. The equipment although new is poor, not enough classes are available at certainly non early afternoon. The cyclecise class area has been renovated at Dunston but is... See more
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Company details
Written by the company
Welcome to Better! We’re a charitable social enterprise, committed to the health and wellbeing of everyone in our community. From gyms, leisure centres and swimming pools to lessons and courses for both adults and juniors - plus libraries and children's centres - we've got it all. So whether you’d like to try something new, keep the kids entertained or have a dip in the pool, discover our inclusive range of activities, suitable for all ages and abilities at your local Better centre today.
Contact info
Shibdon Road, NE21 5NW, Blaydon-on-Tyne, England, United Kingdom
3.9
Great
61 reviews
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Reply from Better - Blaydon Leisure Centre
Hi Me
Thank you for your review.
We are delighted to observe that the team at the Blaydon Leisure Centre is creating a welcoming environment and maintaining the facility.
We hope your experience continues and thank you for choosing Better.
Kind Regards
Amir
Quick response to query
I had an issue with my membership and I received the help quickly.
May 12, 2025
Unprompted review
Reply from Better - Blaydon Leisure Centre
Hi Emma,
Thank you for sharing your experience!
We're glad to hear that our team was able to assist you quickly with your membership issue. If you need any further help, feel free to reach out!
Kind regards,
Charmaine
Complicated setup
Setting up a membership and navigating the app are quite tricky, and when I tried to call for help, I kept getting cut off. After receiving an email to say "sorry you're leaving us", despite having set up a direct debit, and never having indicated my wish to cancel (in fact quite the opposite), I admitted defeat and spoke to the staff within the centre. Thankfully, they were more than helpful, and got me sorted out with the app, access to my account, and access to my daughter's swimming portal. My advice would be, save yourself a lot of hassle and set everything up while in the centre, so that you can get hands on advice from the staff.
April 16, 2025
Reply from Better - Blaydon Leisure Centre
Hi OneHappyMother
Thank you for your review
We are very sorry to hear that setting up your membership and navigating the app proved frustrating, and that your attempts to get help over the phone were not successful.
That said, we're so pleased to hear that our centre staff were able to step in and get everything sorted for you, from your account to your daughter’s swimming portal.
We hope you can both enjoy using the Blaydon Leisure Centre.
Kind Regards
Amir
The staff at Blaydon better are so…
The staff at Blaydon better are so helpful and friendly Ray in the gym is always there to help you
April 16, 2025
Reply from Better - Blaydon Leisure Centre
Hi Stephen,
Thank you so much for your kind words!
We’re so glad to hear that you’ve had such a positive experience at Blaydon Better and that Ray in the gym has been so helpful.
We’re lucky to have such a friendly and supportive team!
Your feedback really means a lot to us.
Looking forward to seeing you again soon!
Friendly and Efficient
Friendly staff, reasonable prices and the app is easy to navigate! Thank you!
April 10, 2025
Reply from Better - Blaydon Leisure Centre
Hi Suzanne,
Thank you so much for your kind words!
We're thrilled to hear that you had a great experience with our staff, pricing, and app. We truly appreciate your feedback and look forward to serving you again soon!
Kind regards,
Charmaine
Took over a week and 3hrs waiting for…
Took over a week and 3hrs waiting for my wife to get signed up for a membership. I already had a membership and was given a new card, still can’t get onto the website to book a lane.
April 9, 2025
Reply from Better - Blaydon Leisure Centre
Hi IGJ,
Thank you for your feedback, and we sincerely apologise for the inconvenience you experienced.
We understand how frustrating it must have been to wait for such a long time and face issues with accessing the website. We apologise for any issues you experienced when signing your wife up to a membership at the Blaydon Leisure Centre. In the meantime, please feel free to reach out to our customer support team directly so we can resolve your access issue as quickly as possible. Our contact number and email details are at the bottom of our website under Contact Us.
We truly appreciate your patience and understanding.
Kind regards,
Charmaine
Great help from staff
Easy to join and help to transfer bookings over from previous system
April 2, 2025
Reply from Better - Blaydon Leisure Centre
Hello Shopoholick,
Thank you so much for your kind words!
We are thrilled to learn that your experience with us was positive and that the transition process went seamlessly for you. It’s wonderful to hear that our system facilitated an effortless transfer of your bookings. If you have any additional questions or if there's anything else we can assist you with, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We're here to help!
Kind regards,
Charmaine
The adult and child swims are no longer…
The adult and child swims are no longer free for members which is a real shame as we loved going together as part of the paid membership.
April 2, 2025
Reply from Better - Blaydon Leisure Centre
Hi Peggy Marsh,
Thank you for sharing your feedback with us.
We understand your frustration with the recent changes to our free swim policy, we are very sorry for the inconvenience this has caused our customers. As a company we are always looking at ways to best serve the community, and provide the best experience we can for our customers. We appreciate your understanding as we navigate the adjustments, your feedback is invaluable in helping us improve.
Please reach out if you have any further concerns or questions.
Kind Regards,
Sarah H
No problem with change over great…
No problem with change over great service of staff at Blaydon leasure centre
April 1, 2025
Reply from Better - Blaydon Leisure Centre
Hi Kathleen,
Thank you so much for your kind words!
We are delighted to hear that you had a great experience at Blaydon Leisure Centre. Our staff works hard to ensure everything runs smoothly, so your positive feedback means a lot. We look forward to welcoming you back soon!
Kind regards,
Charmaine
Absolutely horrendous company ripping…
Absolutely horrendous company ripping off parents! This company took over from our local council where my daughter has recently finished swimming lessons as she's completed all the levels. 3 days before they took over, we were told by reception at the club that we shouldnt cancel the newly set up direct debit as it would mean we would get charged a fee, and to wait until the day they took over then call in and let them know that our daughter was already signed off the full course of lessons so it was just to be closed down. They however have ported over my 'membership', which i have never had, we weren't members of the leisure club, we just paid for our daughters swimming lessons, and have charged us for a full months swimming lessons, that she is not in as she has completed them all, and are not refunding the money! Complete and utter scam! You have to submit a refund request online, cannot talk to anyone, and then they just ignore the issue and do whatever they want! I've paid £34 for literally nothing, not one single lesson!! They have 'credited' £8 to my 'account', so are keeping the rest by the looks of it. And for what??? Not a single lesson!!!! We didn't sign up for any membership ever. When the lessons are finished that's it. I will be disputing this with the bank to claim the money back. Disgusting company and disgusting lack of any customer service. Making money by blatently stealing money from parents!!!
April 1, 2025
Reply from Better - Blaydon Leisure Centre
Hi Mrs Alex Ball,
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We are genuinely sorry to hear about your recent experience, and we understand how frustrating this situation must be for you. We strive to provide clear communication and excellent service, so it’s disappointing to hear that your experience fell short of expectations.
We would like to investigate this further and address the issue of the incorrect charge for your daughter’s swimming lessons. It sounds like there was some confusion around the membership and billing process, and we’d like to make sure this is resolved as quickly as possible. Please reach out to our customer service team, and we’ll ensure the matter is reviewed thoroughly and a resolution is provided.
Again, we apologise for the inconvenience, and we appreciate your feedback as it helps us improve. We’re committed to providing a better experience for all our customers.
Warm regards,
Charmaine
The booking prevents people that go to…
The booking prevents people that go to school to be able to have the free will to go at any time.
April 1, 2025
Reply from Better - Blaydon Leisure Centre
Hi Dylan,
Thank you for sharing your feedback.
We understand that flexibility is important, especially for those with busy schedules like students. We're constantly working on improving our services, and your input is valuable in helping us create better options for everyone. We'll take your concern into consideration as we look for ways to enhance our booking system and make it more accommodating. Thank you again for your thoughts!
Warm regards,
Charmaine
Utter confusion in the change over from…
Utter confusion in the change over from Go Gateshead. Lack of communication and consistency
April 2, 2025
Reply from Better - Blaydon Leisure Centre
Hi Ray,
Thank you for your feedback, and we apologise for the confusion you've experienced during the transition from Go Gateshead. We understand how frustrating it can be when communication and consistency fall short. Please know that we're actively working to improve these areas and ensure a smoother experience moving forward. If there's anything specific you'd like to share or if you need further assistance, feel free to reach out to us directly.
We truly appreciate your patience and understanding.
Kind regards,
Charmaine
Friendly staff at Blaydon Leisure…
Friendly staff at Blaydon Leisure Centre, helped me to download and activate the better app..
April 1, 2025
Reply from Better - Blaydon Leisure Centre
Hi Summer
Thank you for your review.
We are very pleased to see that the staff at the Blaydon Leisure Centre have been able to help you use the App and activate your Better Account!
We hope you enjoy using the facilities, and if you have any further queries, please let us know.
Kind Regards
Amir
Better ( I don’t think so )
Massive queues to get into the gym. I only get 60 minutes and 20 of those were wasted just trying to get logged in whick didn’t work anyway.
April 1, 2025
Reply from Better - Blaydon Leisure Centre
Hi Paul,
I'm really sorry to hear about your experience!
It sounds frustrating to have such long queues and technical issues when you're on a time crunch. We’ll definitely take your feedback seriously and work on improving the check-in process to make sure it’s smoother and quicker. If you encounter any more issues, feel free to reach out to our team so we can assist you right away.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Warm regards,
Charmaine
Not Better - Very poor communication.
Very poor communication about the take over of our local authority leisure centre. Access to the facilities that I have been a member for the last 5 years were blocked. With a 20min wait to try and find membership details which are still not resolved. It was obvious that the staff had not been briefed. All this coudl have been dealt with in the month lead in to the swap over. Not Better
April 2, 2025
Reply from Better - Blaydon Leisure Centre
Hi,
Thank you for sharing your feedback, and we sincerely apologise for the inconvenience you’ve experienced.
We understand how frustrating it must have been to face communication issues and delays, especially after being a valued member at the Blaydon Leisure Centre for five years. Please rest assured that we are actively working to address these concerns and improve our processes during such transitions. We will take your feedback into account to ensure that future changes are communicated more effectively and that access to facilities is seamless for all members. If you haven’t yet resolved your membership details, please feel free to reach out directly, and we’ll prioritise getting this sorted as quickly as possible. We truly appreciate your continued support and patience as we work through this.
Kind regards,
Charmaine
Filthy Gym
Having been a member of Blaydon gym for nearly 3 year we’ve decided to cancel our memberships.
The gym is absolutely filthy, machines, equipment, floor all filthy. Even the TV has an inch of dust around it.
The equipment itself is dated and the majority of features on the machines don’t work anymore… it’s like a dignitas for gym equipment
The kids who are allowed to use the gym after school have no perception of personal space or health & safety. They also workout 3, 4, 5, 6 to a station clogging them up for upto half an hour. Lost count of the times I’ve seen a youth carrying dumbells over someone’s head whilst they’re on the floor in the stretching area too. It’s also amazing how some of the staff disappear during this time.
The staff are lovely however appear to have given up the ghost work wise choosing to sit playing on their phones instead of cleaning the place properly & providing proper supervision. There’s also no enforcement from staff of a dirty shoe policy given the countless people who train in manky, mud covered shoes. I’m led to believe from a member of staff that management don’t enter the gym so it’s an easy ride.
Classes are always fully booked yet on the day are never full which is really annoying for those who can’t get booked. The selection of classes is also very poor. It staggers me that a gym doesn’t have a spin class.
I’ve also witnessed a few minor accidents in the gym yet there’s never been a hint of an accident or near miss log being filled out
March 23, 2025
Unprompted review
Reply from Better - Blaydon Leisure Centre
Hi Geezle,
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us, and we’re sorry to hear about your experience at the Blaydon Leisure Centre. We understand your frustration and take your comments seriously. Cleanliness, equipment maintenance, and the overall gym environment are top priorities for us, and we will look into these matters once we start to operate the facilities from the 1st April.
We’re particularly concerned about your experience with safety, and we want to assure you that we’ll review the policies around supervision, cleanliness, and the behavior of members, particularly regarding personal space and gym etiquette. Our staff will always be proactive in maintaining the gym’s standards and ensuring a safe and pleasant experience for everyone.
Regarding the classes, we apologise for any inconvenience caused by the current booking process and availability. We’ll take your feedback into account once we start to operate the new centres from the 1st April.
We value all of our members, and your experience certainly doesn’t meet the standard we aim to provide. Thank you again for sharing your concerns—we’ll use your feedback to improve the gym for current and future members.
Kind regards,
Charmaine
Cleanliness in the gym is appalling
Cleanliness in the gym is appalling.
Toilets aren’t much better.
‘Peak time’ occupancy is kids not respecting etiquette of personal space and cleaning down stations after use
March 9, 2025
Reply from Better - Blaydon Leisure Centre
Hi Tor,
Thank you for your feedback.
We're sorry to hear about your experience with cleanliness and gym etiquette at the Blaydon Leisure Centre. We take these concerns seriously and will be addressing the cleanliness of both the gym and the toilets with our team to ensure they meet higher standards from the 1st April. Additionally, we'll reinforce the importance of respecting personal space and cleaning stations after use, especially during peak times.
Your input is invaluable in helping us improve, and we appreciate you bringing this to our attention. We will start to operate the facilities from the 1st April onwards.
Hope this helps.
Charmaine
It’s fine really but the gym ( and the…
It’s fine really but the gym ( and the stairs leading to it - and maybe the changing rooms) are in need of a deep clean and more regular cleaning of floors and equipment etc. It is well used but should aim for better levels of cleanliness.
March 26, 2025
Reply from Better - Blaydon Leisure Centre
Hi Eddie,
Thank you for your feedback!
We appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts. We're sorry to hear that you found the cleanliness of the gym, stairs, and changing rooms at the Blaydon Leisure Centre below your expectations. We take cleanliness seriously and will work on ensuring more frequent cleaning of the floors, equipment, and other areas once we start to operate the facilities on 1st April. Your input helps us maintain a better experience for everyone, and we will make improvements right away.
Thanks again for bringing this to our attention!
Kind regards,
Charmaine
The children's swimming classes have…
The children's swimming classes have increased their numbers of child per teacher. Gone from 6 to 8 and 8 to 12.
A very disappointing start that doesn't bode well!
March 4, 2025
Reply from Better - Blaydon Leisure Centre
Hi Gill,
Thank you for sharing your feedback.
We understand your concerns regarding the changes to the teacher-to-child ratio in the children's swimming classes. We are committed to maintaining a high-quality experience for all our students and will take your comments into consideration as we continue to review our programs. Your satisfaction is important to us, and we hope to improve your experience moving forward. If you have any further concerns or suggestions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us directly.
Warm regards,
Charmaine
Reply from Better - Blaydon Leisure Centre
Hi Karin,
Thank you for sharing your feedback! We appreciate you taking the time to leave a review.
It sounds like you feel the classes haven’t changed or evolved, and we totally understand how that can be a bit frustrating if you're looking for something new or different. We always strive to improve and adapt our offerings to meet the needs of our students, and feedback like yours is really valuable in helping us do that. If you have any specific suggestions on what you'd like to see improved or changed in the classes, please feel free to share! We're always open to hearing ideas that could enhance the experience for everyone.
Again, thank you for sharing your thoughts with us. We hope to continue providing you with the best possible learning experience!
Kind regards,
Charmaine
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