Just joined The Hive in Ely what a lovely facility this is ! Swimming pool and changing rooms always nice and clean, decent showers that actually work , friendly staff, and good value for an off peak... See more
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Location
Switch location15 Ely Leisure Village, Downham Road, CB6 2SH Ely, GB
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The website is terrible and very muddled, especially navigating bookings. The staff at the Hive are kind and helpful. However, I think that when a person is first joining a class it would be hel... See more
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The "Hive" gym in Ely is a fantastic place! The staff are all very friendly & professional & the facilities are fantastic! I have also been to lots of the fitness classes which are very enjoyable & fu... See more
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Hi I'm glad I joined - the staff are very recieving and other members polite. The one thing I would say - and that's why I didn't give full stars - is the way the showers work - I understand regarding... 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
15 Ely Leisure Village, Downham Road, CB6 2SH, Ely, United Kingdom
4.1
Great
67 reviews
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The Hive Leisure Centre
The speed of joining.
The induction.
The flexibility of activities and ways to increase fitness
Warmth and general friendly atmosphere
August 26, 2025
Reply from Better - The Hive Leisure Centre
Hi Customer
Thank you for your review.
It is great to see that you have had a positive journey with Better so far, and you are enjoying the different activities available at The Hive Leisure Centre.
We hope your experience continues, and thank you for choosing Better.
Kind Regards
Amir
Don’t miss out on a life changing opportunity.
Friendly, encouraging staff. Excellent clean modern facilities. Wide range of activities available for all ages and abilities. Easy to book activities online.
September 3, 2025
Reply from Better - The Hive Leisure Centre
Hello Birmingham Flyer
Thank you for your fantastic review!
We are so delighted to hear that our Customer Service Team were able to assist you.
We pride ourselves on providing excellent customer service and are happy that this has been reflected in the service you have received.
We have also passed on your comments to the agent who assisted you!
Warm Regards
Aaiasa
everyone friendly and concerned about…
everyone friendly and concerned about my experience
September 3, 2025
Reply from Better - The Hive Leisure Centre
Hi Judith,
Thanks for your review.
We are so happy to hear that you are enjoying The Hive Leisure Centre!
Warm Regards
Hazal
The "Hive" gym in Ely is a fantastic…
The "Hive" gym in Ely is a fantastic place! The staff are all very friendly & professional & the facilities are fantastic! I have also been to lots of the fitness classes which are very enjoyable & fun!!! Jack Friend one of the personal trainers is brilliant,he really motivates us all!!!
July 17, 2025
Reply from Better - The Hive Leisure Centre
Hi Anita
Thank you for your review
We are very pleased to hear that you're enjoying your time at The Hive Gym in Ely.
It is great to know a lot to know that our friendly staff, great facilities, and fun fitness classes are making a positive impact on your experience.
A special thank you for your kind words about Jack, and we have passed your feedback on to the General Manager for Jack to review.
Kind Regards
Amir
Friendly and helpful instructors
The instructors are friendly and helpful, easily approachable for guidance and help.
July 7, 2025
Reply from Better - The Hive Leisure Centre
Hi Tony,
Thank you so much for your kind words!
We're thrilled to hear that you found our instructors friendly, helpful, and approachable at The Hive Leisure Centre. Supporting our students is a top priority, and it's great to know that it made a positive impact on your experience. We're always here to help and guide you whenever you need it!
Kind regards,
Charmaine
Very crafty at taking your money.
Slimy floors in changing rooms with bad odour. Staff at reception don't seem to know anything and just direct you to the website. Pressure parents to buy medals for swimming achievements by giving a card to the children and saying you can purchase a medals at reception. Parents are not going to downplay their child's achievements so will purchase it regardless or whether they can afford it. Medals should come into the monthly cost of the swimming lessons like most other sports groups. Swimming lessons will often start a few minutes late but will always end on time. You cannot pay cash for anything at the facility, even if you are a teen going with friends and don't have a card to pay with.
June 30, 2025
Unprompted review
Reply from Better - The Hive Leisure Centre
Hi Customer
Thank you for your review.
We’re sorry to hear about your disappointing experience with the changing room cleanliness and the odour issues, and we will be addressing this with the centre staff.
Thank you for raising your concerns about the reception staff and the purchasing of medals. We appreciate your feedback. We intend to celebrate our swimmers’ achievements positively, and the option to buy medals is for the parents to decide.
We also apologise for the occasional late start to swimming lessons and the inconvenience of not being able to pay by cash on-site, as we are now cashless.
Kind Regards
Amir
Reply from Better - The Hive Leisure Centre
Hi Naomi
Thank you for your review.
It is great to see you enjoyed the fitness class with Steve at The Hive Leisure Centre.
We will pass your feedback on, and we hope to see you soon!
Kind Regards
Amir
Reply from Better - The Hive Leisure Centre
Hi Anne
Thank you for your review.
We are glad to see you find the Better website easy to use, and I hope you can successfully book the fitness classes you wish to attend!
Thank you for choosing Better.
Kind Regards
Amir
Really supportive staff
Really supportive staff - Jack was really helpful and freely gave of his time to make sure was fully conversant with all the equipment . . . not just once but twice!
May 14, 2025
Reply from Better - The Hive Leisure Centre
Hi,
Thanks for your review.
We are so pleased to hear that the staff at The Hive have been so supportive!
Warm Regards
Hazal
Great place
Great place, really clean, fabulous facilities, people are very friendly and welcoming, the only down side is many of the classes fill up very quickly
May 14, 2025
Reply from Better - The Hive Leisure Centre
Dear Sally,
I would like to express my sincere gratitude for your thoughtful remarks.
We are delighted to learn that you are pleased with the cleanliness, facilities, and the welcoming atmosphere we strive to maintain at the Hive Leisure Centre. We acknowledge your concerns regarding the swift filling of classes; this is an issue we are actively addressing by exploring strategies to enhance availability and refine the booking process. Your input is invaluable to us, and we are committed to ensuring a consistently positive experience during each of your visits.
Thank you once again for your feedback.
Sincerely,
Charmaine
Reply from Better - The Hive Leisure Centre
Hi Ollie,
Thank you very much for your thoughtful and encouraging words! 😊
We’re truly delighted to hear that you find the app easy to navigate. It’s important to us that our users have a seamless experience, and your feedback reassures us that we’re on the right track. If you ever have any suggestions or specific feedback on features you would like to see, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We value your input and are always eager to improve.
Thanks again for being such a wonderful part of our community! Your support means a lot to us.
Kind regards,
Charmaine
Excellent have recently joined Better and am…
I have recently joined Better and am really enjoying every visit. The staff are so welcoming and nothing is too much trouble.
It's easy to book classes and swimming etc.
I really love going to The Hive Ely and am enjoying the whole experience each time I visit
April 17, 2025
Reply from Better - The Hive Leisure Centre
Hi Julie,
Thank you so much for your lovely message! We’re absolutely delighted to hear that you’re enjoying the Hive Leisure Centre.
Our goal as a company is to create a space where the community can come together, stay active, and support their overall well-being—so it’s wonderful to hear that our team has helped create such a positive and welcoming environment for you.
We truly appreciate you taking the time to share your experience, and we look forward to seeing you again very soon.
Kind regards,
Sarah H
I love the Hive at Ely
I love the Hive at Ely. The classes are superb. The instructors are so encouraging. My only quibble is trying to book on to some classes is very difficult. Especially aquaerobics. The demand for classes far exceeds the supply.
April 16, 2025
Reply from Better - The Hive Leisure Centre
Hi Lynda,
We’re so pleased to hear that you’re really enjoying the fitness classes at The Hive Leisure Centre! We understand how popular these sessions are, and we’re aware that demand is very high.
We’re always looking at ways to expand our activity offerings and improve access to our facilities, so fitness class availability is something we regularly review.
Once again, we’re so glad to hear that you’re loving your time at The Hive!
Kind regards,
Sarah H
Overcharging
You recently started charging extra for activities like Women Only Swimming. It's no longer part of my membership. What I used to do for £36 per month is now £68!
April 2, 2025
Reply from Better - The Hive Leisure Centre
Hi Paola,
Thank you for sharing your feedback with us.
We truly understand your concern regarding the recent changes in pricing for activities like Women Only Swimming. Our goal is to continuously improve and offer a wide range of activities that cater to everyone's needs. The new pricing structure reflects the added value of these specialised programs, but we appreciate that it may not be ideal for everyone. We’re always open to suggestions and will take your comments into account as we evaluate our offerings. If you have any further questions or would like to discuss your membership, please feel free to reach out directly.
Kind regards,
Charmaine
Friendly staff
Steve who conducted my induction was lovely and everyone was friendly. Only let down is I hadn't realised it's no longer open until 10pm which makes attending difficult
March 24, 2025
Reply from Better - The Hive Leisure Centre
Hi Charlotte,
Thank you for sharing your feedback!
We're glad to hear that Steve made your induction a pleasant experience and that you found everyone to be friendly at the Hive Leisure Centre. We understand that the change in hours might make attending more challenging for some, and we appreciate you letting us know. We'll definitely take this into consideration as we continue to improve. If there's anything else we can do to make your experience easier, please don't hesitate to reach out!
Warm regards,
Charmaine
The Healthwise scheme
The Healthwise scheme is great! Jack and Stephen very knowledgeable and supportive - I can already feel the benefits and feel much more motivated
March 24, 2025
Reply from Better - The Hive Leisure Centre
Hi Pauline,
Thank you so much for your kind words! We're thrilled to hear that you're already feeling the benefits of the Healthwise scheme. Jack and Stephen are indeed fantastic, and it's wonderful to know that their support and knowledge have made such a positive impact on your motivation.
Keep up the great work, and we're excited to continue supporting you on your journey!
Kind regards,
Charmaine
Professional helpful kind staff
March 10, 2025
Reply from Better - The Hive Leisure Centre
Hi Susan,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your feedback!
We are delighted to hear that you had a positive experience with our team. Our staff works hard to ensure that everyone feels supported, and it's wonderful to know their professionalism, helpfulness, and kindness stood out to you.
We truly appreciate your kind words and look forward to serving you again in the future!
Kind regards,
Charmaine
Organise and reduce stress …
The website is complicated and not easy to use.
Two assessments now completed which appear to have gone well ! However at each visit and with our prompt arrival finding the teacher and where to go has been chaotic. No system seems to be in situ, we had to fight the fight to find out where to go and who was the teacher. This used up time of the lesson and was frustrating as a parent and certainly not a good start for an already slightly nervous child in a new environment
February 18, 2025
Reply from Better - The Hive Leisure Centre
Hello Jayne,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us.
I sincerely apologise for the difficulties you experienced with our website's navigation. Could you please specify which part of the website you found challenging? This information will allow me to relay your feedback to our Web Developers. We aim to make the website user-friendly, and your insights will be valuable for future improvements.
Additionally, I regret to hear that you were uncertain about where to go when you visited the centre for your child's lessons. The concierge at the centre should assist you in finding the correct location for your child's lessons, and I apologise if this assistance was not provided. We will take your feedback into account regarding both the website and the support for newcomers at the centre.
Thank you for your input, and we hope your child has a wonderful time at their swimming lessons at The Hive Leisure Centre.
Kind regards,
Charmaine
Cleanliness and what you're getting for your money.
Hello.
My name is Ollie J Wright and today I ended up at the Hive for a Monday afternoon swim (which happens to be my day off)
Don't get me wrong - the Hive is absolutely lovely and run by a team of people who certainly knows how to bring in the customers.
So let me tell you a bit about my experience.
I was booked in for the 10 to 3 session and ended up arriving a bit early, so I was very disappointed to still see the fire exit door by the main pool and all round it covered in cobwebs after I raised it with the staff back in the summer to do something about it.
Next up - was the water on the floors, that my friends is a slip hazard plain and simple as you're walking in bare feet after using the main pool and showers, it's all well and good putting wet floor signs everywhere but there's a mop and other cleaning equipment nearby which is very offputting.
Finally - is the main pool water temperature, they have said its maintained at 28 degrees but certainly felt a lot colder than that, other times I have noticed it is when they whack the heating on and that brings it up or after a few lengths, you start to feel it getting warmer.
Sorry Hive - you're getting a 4 for that.
If you want a 5 star rating, I suggest you start sweeping outside regardless of the weather, mopping the floors and putting cleaning equipment away.
Plus maintaining the temperature of the main pool to keep everyone happy.
December 16, 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from Better - The Hive Leisure Centre
Hi Ollie,
Thanks for your review.
We truly appreciate your feedback and have passed this to the centre so they can look at improving.
Warm Regards
Hazal
The Hive in Ely could be a great place but...
It appears that whoever decides on the swimming pool layout likely has never swum before. The pool in the Hive, Ely can accommodate up to 8 lanes, yet they often merge 2 or 3 of these lanes, effectively wasting space.
Typically, the slow double lanes are occupied by 3-4 people, which averages out to 2 people per lane, while the faster lanes become totally overcrowded. Why merge lanes?! The reason is most likely simple: some staff seem too lazy to install the lane dividers. This is the only swimming pool where I’ve encountered such nonsense. Swimming here is not relaxing; it’s simply frustrating.
Furthermore, the hygiene in the male gym changing room is totally unacceptable. The taps are filthy, and the entire place has a strong smell of urine all the time. It really is not difficult, nor expensive to give the sinks/taps a good scrub with fairy liquid and mop the floors every so often.
November 30, 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from Better - The Hive Leisure Centre
Good Morning Niel,
Thank you for taking the time to provide your feedback.
I truly regret to learn of the above issues you experienced at The Hive Leisure Centre. Your experience is important to us, so your concerns will be forwarded to the centre management team so they can look into the points you have raised.
Your insights are invaluable, and I assure you that we will address this with our team to see how the above matter can be tackled. Please feel free to reach out if you have any further details you'd like to share or if there's anything we can do to make amends.
Thank you once again for your valuable feedback.
Best regards,
Charmaine
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