I love swimming outdoors in fresh water but I feel the rules at the reservoir are extremely regimented and unfair, forbidding any swimming on the back. It makes no sense as regular strokes on the back... See more
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Location
Switch locationGreen Lanes, N4 2HA Stoke Newington, GB
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West Reservoir is a great venue for open water swimming. The staff are excellent. It is well run and the focus is on safety. Hate the Better App. Find it hard to navigate. Hate the penalties ap... See more
Company replied
The safety is fantastic, I feel totally supported. The atmosphere is kept very friendly and the cafe on site is amazing!
Company replied
I have always had a very positive experience at Better centres. Staff always positive, polite and friendly (so different to a typical local authority leisure centre!). Facilities are brilliant - bei... 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
Green Lanes, N4 2HA, Stoke Newington, United Kingdom
4.1
Great
20 reviews
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The safety is fantastic
The safety is fantastic, I feel totally supported. The atmosphere is kept very friendly and the cafe on site is amazing!
July 27, 2026
Reply from Better - West Reservoir Centre
Hi Sophie
Thank you for your review.
We are very pleased to hear that you feel safe, supported, and welcomed by the friendly atmosphere at West Reservoir Centre.
It's also wonderful to know you're enjoying the café, and we hope to see you again soon!
Kind Regards
Amir
Just sublime
I have always had a very positive experience at Better centres. Staff always positive, polite and friendly (so different to a typical local authority leisure centre!). Facilities are brilliant - being able to go wild swimming in central London is just amazing! And you can really build up your fitness with long swims because you are always under the supervision of kayaking lifeguards.
July 15, 2026
Reply from Better - West Reservoir Centre
Hi Gina,
Thank you for your fantastic review!
We're delighted to hear that you've consistently had positive experiences at our centres and that our team have been so friendly and welcoming.
It's also wonderful to know that you're enjoying the facilities.
We're proud to provide a safe and enjoyable environment, and we're pleased that the presence of our kayaking lifeguards gives you the confidence to build your fitness through longer swims.
We look forward to welcoming you back again soon!
Warm Regards,
Kaisha
I love swimming outdoors in fresh water…
I love swimming outdoors in fresh water but I feel the rules at the reservoir are extremely regimented and unfair, forbidding any swimming on the back. It makes no sense as regular strokes on the back are clearly different from someone waving in distress. It means my swim is always cut short and fundamentally not relaxing.
July 1, 2026
Reply from Better - West Reservoir Centre
Hi Lily,
We’re sorry to hear that the current guidelines at the reservoir have impacted your experience.
We understand how important it is for open water swimming to feel both enjoyable and relaxing, and it’s disappointing to hear that the rules have affected this for you. The safety measures in place are designed to help our team quickly identify swimmers who may be in difficulty, however we appreciate your point about how certain strokes, such as back swimming, can be clearly distinguishable.
Your feedback is really valuable, and we will ensure it is shared with the relevant team for review. It’s important that we continue to balance safety with providing a positive experience for all swimmers.
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts.
Warm Regards,
Hazal
Facilities and staff
July 1, 2026
Reply from Better - West Reservoir Centre
Good Evening,
Thank you for your lovely review!
We're thrilled to hear that you're loving our facilities and that our staff have been great.
We hope to see you again soon!
Warm Regards,
Kaisha
Great new facilities at West Reservoir
Great new facilities at West Reservoir. Always friendly staff 👍
June 28, 2026
Reply from Better - West Reservoir Centre
Hi Ms R
Thank you for your review.
We are very pleased to see that you’re enjoying the fantastic new facilities at West Reservoir and that our friendly team have helped create such a welcoming atmosphere!
We look forward to seeing you soon!
Kind Regards
Amir
Reply from Better - West Reservoir Centre
Hi Budd,
Thank you for your lovely review!
We're so thrilled that you're loving your visits to our West Reservoir Centre, and it's amazing to hear that you feel we're doing everything just right.
We can't wait to welcome you back again!
Warm Regards,
Kaisha
West Reservoir is a great venue for…
West Reservoir is a great venue for open water swimming. The staff are excellent. It is well run and the focus is on safety.
Hate the Better App. Find it hard to navigate.
Hate the penalties applied if you make a booking and then immediately make another booking i.e to change the time to slightly later - this counts as a cancellation
May 25, 2026
Reply from Better - West Reservoir Centre
Hi Grant,
Thank you for your amazing review!
We're so happy that you find our West Reservoir Centre great for open water swimming.
We're also thrilled that our staff have been excellent during your visits.
We appreciate your feedback regarding the Better UK App and the late cancellation penalty fee.
We're more than happy to share this with the relevant team for further review.
Warm Regards,
Kaisha
Customer Service SO helpful …
Customer Service SO helpful in sorting out the right membership for me and refunding a payment. Concessions are brilliant too for a poorly paid, sixty something Londoner. Thank you!
July 21, 2025
Reply from Better - West Reservoir Centre
Hi Julian,
Thank you so much for your kind words!
We’re thrilled to hear that our customer service team was able to help you find the right membership and sort out the refund smoothly. It’s great to know our concessions are making a difference — we’re always here to support our community. If you need anything else, just let us know!
Thanks again for sharing your experience.
Kind regards,
Charmaine
There is no centre management
Better - West Reservoir Water Sports
If you actually manage to find and book the water sports course you want, then the experience is good.
But that’s a massive IF. There appears to be no management. I’ve emailed at least 10 times, I’ve phoned (no joy), I’ve contacted Better Customer Service 4 times, and I’ve been in in-person several times. But the person I need to speak to is never available/I get incorrect info/I’m told to come back. It’s so infuriating and no one takes responsibility.
If you want your kids to do RYA Training Levels, find an alternative as you won’t get them past level 2 here.
June 6, 2025
Unprompted review
Reply from Better - West Reservoir Centre
Hi Francesca,
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback about your experience at West Reservoir Water Sports. We're pleased to hear that once booked, you found the course itself to be enjoyable. However, we're truly sorry to learn about the difficulties you faced in trying to arrange it.
We understand how frustrating it must be to experience delayed responses and a lack of clear communication, especially when trying to organise important training for your children. This is certainly not the level of service we aim to provide, and we sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused.
Your feedback has been shared with the management team at the centre so we can address these issues directly. We are reviewing our communication processes and booking systems to ensure a more reliable and accessible experience for all customers moving forward.
Thank you again for your honest review — it helps us improve.
Warm regards,
Charmaine
Lost for words, waste of time and unreliable
Lost for words! Unable to reach out to the only person able to provide a code to benefit from a concessionary rate for the Watersports Multi activites. I have been emailing, travelled on site 2 times in a week, left my full personal details, called the Better costumer services where at least 6 of my calls are logged, no way to contact the West Reservoir directly of course. I ended up submitting a formal written complaint almost one week ago...unanswered!
Total waste of time and energy to benefit from an offer displayed publicly
So disappointed..,
March 31, 2025
Reply from Better - West Reservoir Centre
Hi Maggy,
I’m really sorry to hear about your frustrating experience, and I completely understand your disappointment. It’s definitely not the level of service we aim to provide, especially when trying to access something that was advertised.
I want to assure you that your feedback is taken seriously. I’ll make sure your concerns are escalated to the appropriate team to ensure better communication moving forward. If you’re still interested in the concessionary rate for the Watersports Multi activities, I would be happy to personally assist you in resolving this as quickly as possible. Please feel free to reach out directly via our Customer Service Team so we can get this sorted for you. You can find the details at the bottom of our home page via the main website.
Once again, I truly apologise for the inconvenience, and thank you for your patience while we work to resolve this.
Kind regards,
Charmaine
A great place to swim with lovely…
A great place to swim with lovely staff, a great cafe and a wonderful atmosphere. Always lots of room to swim
February 21, 2025
Unprompted review
Reply from Better - West Reservoir Centre
Good Afternoon Deborah,
I hope this message finds you well!
I wanted to take a moment to express our sincere gratitude for your thoughtful feedback. It truly warms our hearts to hear that you feel at home in our café. We work diligently to create an inviting atmosphere, and knowing that our space resonates with you means so much to us.
Our team takes great pride in providing exceptional service, and it’s wonderful to hear that you’ve enjoyed interactions with our lovely staff. We believe that a friendly smile and a warm greeting can make all the difference in your experience.
We are also committed to ensuring that everyone has plenty of room to relax and enjoy their time here, so it’s gratifying to know that you appreciate the spacious environment we strive to maintain.
Thank you once again for your lovely words. We can’t wait to welcome you back for another visit soon!
Best regards,
Charmaine
A little piece of heaven
I've been swimming here for about 18 months and I can honestly say that is my little haven. It is great for my mental and physical health to swim in open water surrounded by nature, in London!
The staff are fantastic and, as a older and not very strong swimmer, I feel looked after and very safe. They are all so friendly and helpful.
The little café is delightful, with fresh homemade food and pleasant staff.
I love this place.
February 20, 2025
Unprompted review
Reply from Better - West Reservoir Centre
Good Afternoon Lorna,
Thank you so much for your kind words.
We're thrilled to hear that our open-water swimming has become your little haven. It's wonderful to know that it's benefiting both your mental and physical health. We're also delighted to hear that our staff have made you feel safe and supported and that you enjoy the atmosphere at the café. Your feedback means a lot to us, and we're so happy to have you as part of our community. We look forward to welcoming you back for many more swims!
Kind regards,
Charmaine
Love this place and all the wonderful…
Love this place and all the wonderful staff that work there. The staff really look after us, especially over the winter when it's really cold. Still smiling even though they have maybe sitting in a kayak in the rain for hours. Been going over 10years and the cafe run by a Portuguese family is also great. Especially their "pasteis de nata" and amazing fish
February 21, 2025
Unprompted review
Reply from Better - West Reservoir Centre
Good Morning Karen,
Thank you so much for your kind words.
We're happy to hear you've had such a positive experience with us over the years. Our team always strives to provide great service, even when the weather isn't on our side, so it's wonderful to know it's appreciated! We're also glad you enjoy the cafe and the delicious pasteis de nata and fish. Your loyalty and support mean the world to us, and we look forward to welcoming you back for many more years to come!
Kind regards,
Charmaine
Brilliant swim spot
Everything about my experience was great. Good induction, very friendly and helpful staff and a lovely vibe.
October 4, 2024
Reply from Better - West Reservoir Centre
Good Afternoon Emma,
I hope this message finds you well. I wanted to take a moment to express our sincere gratitude for your recent review.
It brings us immense joy to learn that you are thoroughly enjoying your membership at the West Reservoir Centre. Your positive feedback about the friendly and helpful staff and the overall great atmosphere at the centre truly warms our hearts. We are committed to ensuring that your experience at our facility continues to be nothing short of exceptional.
Thank you once again for sharing your experience, Emma. Your feedback means a lot to us, and we look forward to continuing to exceed your expectations. If there is anything else we can do to enhance your experience, please do not hesitate to reach out.
Warm regards,
Charmaine
Better made mistake then put onus on me to fix
My first experience was booking to swim at West Reservoir. I turned up and swam but the next day I got a "no show" £3 charge. Luckily I'd taken a photo of the water temp board and also had my receipt from buying a swim hat. But it meant when I went to go to main gym Britannia Leisure it wouldn't let me in.
Policy is you have to return to the "no show" location to sort the dispute, even when it is clearly their fault. This time central customer service sorted it but have said next time I'd have to do the hour round journey to resolve.
I pay extra each month for the benefit of having a multi venue membership, but this policy of having to go to each center to resolve a mistake that Better makes is clearly not suitable. Surely Better can resolve this if someone is paying nore for a multi centre membership?
August 19, 2024
Reply from Better - West Reservoir Centre
Hi Alex,
Thank you for your review.
The penalty fee is issued if you fail to attend a pre-booked activity or if you fail to register your attendance.
If you do incur a fee, only the centre where the fee was issued can confirm that you have actually attended which is why you have to refer back.
We appreciate your feedback and hope you do not have any further issues going forward.
Warm Regards
Hazal
Reply from Better - West Reservoir Centre
Hi Cecilie
Thank you for your review,
We are delighted to see that our staff have been able to provide the necessary assistance and we hope you continue to enjoy your time at our West Reservoir Centre.
Thank you for choosing Better!
Kind Regards
Amir
The website is really difficult to…
The website is really difficult to navigate and I am completely unable to book a swimming sessions on my app as none are ever available. So I wonder why I'm paying £40 a month when I cannot ever go swimming?
July 3, 2024
Reply from Better - West Reservoir Centre
Hi Natasha
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review.
We apologise for the inconvenience caused by the difficulty in booking a swimming session and have sent a direct email to assist you further.
I hope this helps.
Kind Regards
Amir
West Res Rocks!
I don’t know about all the better venues but West Res is AMAZING! The team are caring and attentive and it’s great to have such wonderful facilities. That said the app could be better and there is a broken outdoor shower since last year. Still it’s a really nice place and I absolutely love it!
July 3, 2024
Reply from Better - West Reservoir Centre
Good Afternoon Eddie,
We acknowledge receipt of your review and appreciate the time you took to provide your feedback.
We are pleased to learn that you have been enjoying the facilities at the West Reservoir Centre. It is a matter of great pride for us to hear that our committed staff have consistently delivered a professional and hospitable service during your visits. However, we regret to learn about your dissatisfaction with the Better UK App and the fact that the outdoor shower has been inoperative since last year. Your concerns will be brought to the attention of the centre manager for prompt investigation and necessary repair.
Thank you for bringing these matters to our attention, and we assure you that they will be addressed with the utmost urgency.
Sincerely,
Charmaine
I swam in cold water.
I swam. It was cold water. But that’s what I wanted. Which was good. I’ll do it again very soon. I feel better. Thus far at least. Everyone is very nice and friendly. So I feel less lonely. Which is also good.
October 3, 2023
Reply from Better - West Reservoir Centre
Good Afternoon Michael,
Thank you for your review.
We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your open water swim at the West Reservoir recently. We hope you continue to enjoy your membership and swim sessions at this centre.
Kind regards,
Charmaine
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