Everyone Active - Washington Leisure Centre Reviews 35

Facilities and customer care are a disgrace

Unfortunately, my experience at Everyone Active in Washington has been very disappointing. The biggest issues for me are the parking system and the lack of clear communication from staff.

1. Parking is confusing and frustrating
The parking feels like a money-making trap. Although information is posted on small signs and posters, no one ever clearly explains that you must enter your vehicle registration every single visit. I assumed, as in many other gyms, that once entered, the system would remember my car. As a result, I have already received two parking fines, despite legitimately using the gym.

2. Check-in problems with WellHub membership
I have a membership through WellHub, but I almost always face login issues. On the day I received a fine, I couldn’t check in at all, and the gate was manually opened by staff. This meant my visit was not recorded in the system, leaving me with no proof and a full fine to pay.

As a paying member, I should not have to deal with any issues arising from the communication between WellHub and Everyone Active. I do not want to hear at the front desk that I need to contact WellHub, or my employer, or wait for a chain of communications between all parties to resolve a simple entry problem. I pay for my membership and expect to access the gym without being caught in administrative confusion. If this partnership causes such difficulties for members, it’s questionable why it exists at all.

3. Staff support is unhelpful
The front desk staff often fail to provide clear guidance. When I asked how to check in, I was instead questioned about why I don’t pay for a direct membership, which is much more expensive. This is not helpful for members who simply want to enter the gym and work out.

Summary
I just want to pay for my membership, enter the gym, exercise, and leave — without stress. Unfortunately, at Everyone Active, every visit comes with uncertainty about parking, system issues, and unhelpful staff. I hope these problems are addressed in the future, but at the moment I cannot recommend this gym.

Attended today for a family swim with my husband and 3-year-old daughter. When booking over the phone, I was advised there would be floats available and that she could choose between the large or small pool on the day. On arrival, we were informed the small pool was closed for lessons — which is understandable — but we were later told by a lifeguard that a float could be used, only for a swimming instructor to then refuse it and insist she swim without one.

It’s disappointing that safety seems to take a back seat to profit and scheduling. For young children, especially beginners, access to floats is a basic safety measure — not an optional luxury.

The main pool was also very cold, and even once the small pool reopened, there was no noticeable improvement in temperature. The toilets were unclean, though the showers were hot and the changing rooms reasonably spacious compared to Chester-le-Street’s.

We had planned to enrol our daughter in swimming lessons here, but after today’s experience, we’re no longer confident this is a child-friendly or safety-conscious environment.

Firstly, this place really helped me when I needed it, injured from running and suffering mentally I started here in early 2024. Les mills classes gave structure and built my fitness. Sadly some bright spark higher up in everyone active thinks they are a gym rather than leisure centre and has gutted the top floor to extend the gym which no one asked for. The result is the spin room is now in the old meeting room with 2 nig windows heating the room up. Les mills instructors have quit due to the studios being sacrificed for extra gym space. No virtuals either. All classes in the unsuitable sports hall which is halved for each class. This has resulted in less classes and less flexibility. No strength classes at the time I left to join another provider offering les mills classes. They seem to want anyone to go for extra cost of pt training in the gym. They've killed a thriving community in there which is a huge shame. They've done all this with minimal consultation. Very, very poor.

Terrible service at reception after being a member here for over 3 years the lady at reception refused to issue me a new card as I explained the app doesn't work on my phone while she sat there with a full stack of them. ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING. "Who doesn't have a smart phone nowadays" lovely attitude.

The new gym is impressive but there are too many different types of complicated equipment installed yet the basics have been ignored as there are only two exercise cycles included and the punch ball has been totally omitted. I hope this can be remedied.

Great place for all the family what ever the age, friendly and helpful staff, great location, easy to book events on the app,

my experience was enjoyable because the kids are back at schools, so it is safe for people to have a good swim, nobody bombing, throwing things & deliberatly doing hand stands in front of you. So if just want a swim for your health & wellbeing do not go during school holidays

Lifeguards and front desk staff are always helpful when I take my 2yr old for a swim on a Tuesday !! Love the place, love the helpful Tuesday staff!! What a credit to the everyone active family !! 👍🏼

Brilliant facilities to use, the staff were very understanding and helpful, the leisure centre is very clean and well maintained.

I popped in to the Washington Leisure Centre to check out swimming facilities booked a couple of Slow Swims 7.30 am all went smoothly very friendly Helpful tour by Heather ….. explained all the benefits of a concessionary membership signed up Saturday was so easy !

Lovely clean fresh water, great for swimming lengths and no awful chlorine smell afterwards so bathing costumes last much longer now. Just wish adults would encourage their children to use the showers before entering the pool!
Although pretty busy in school holidays it's good to see the water slides in action again for everyone.
Only downside is the lockers are really small. Not too problematic in summer but you need two in winter for coat plus swimming gear.

Absolutely no prompt to register car reg at desk, tiny signage in car park and £100 fine through the post. Pure greed with this intentional parking scam. Will never be visiting again.

Avoid parking there unless you want a £100 fine signage was very minimal and inadequate

In the end the sports center took effective steps to resolve the issue, and I got the fine credited back. The staff was really helpful with the matter.

I’m not going to lie when I first read reviews I was a bit put off by going, so this is why I thought I’d write one incase anyone else was, I rang the centre and a lovely woman called Bev talked me through everything she had a card ready for me and give me a day pass to see how I would like it before signing up for a month, the girl Chantelle was so helpful to getting me all set up on the app, the parking was fine they now have a car reg system so only people who go to centre can use it, very clean and genuinely a lovely first experience! I would recommend this to my friends! I used the pool sauna and steam room! Thank you girls :)

Excellent centre, very helpful and informative staff. Great facilities and overall fantastic value for money

The facilities are always clean and well maintained.The staff are very helpful and friendly.