The Venue Borehamwood

We travelled for a full hour by bus just to reach Borehamwood Leisure Centre, expecting a simple and enjoyable swim. At first, everything was calm. The pool was bright, the water was clear, and we were genuinely enjoying ourselves. However, the atmosphere changed when a lifeguard began shouting across the pool instead of speaking normally. She was around 5’5”, with black hair, blue eyes, and noticeable freckles across her face, likely in her mid-twenties. Rather than approaching us calmly, she repeatedly shouted “Oi!” in a sharp, impatient tone. It felt unnecessary and unprofessional. I had taken a few pictures of the people I was working with, and although rules can be enforced, there was no reason for such hostility. She later informed us that goggles covering the nose were not allowed, which we accepted. The real issue began when we were told to leave the pool after only forty minutes, despite paying for a full hour. Shortly after, our friend—who had only been swimming for fifteen minutes—was also told to get out because a lesson was starting. We cooperated and left the water, but we reasonably asked for a £5.25 refund for the unused time. Instead of resolving the situation fairly, the staff refused and only offered a day pass, which did not compensate us properly. The situation escalated when two male staff members became involved. One of them, a young man with very curly hair and slight sideburns—appearing to be between eighteen and twenty-five years old—stood nearby. Although I have a picture of him, his face is not clearly visible. During the argument, he was laughing while we were trying to speak seriously about the refund. The second man, whose image is clearly visible above, was the one who threatened to call the police. He spoke loudly and firmly, insisting that because we had already entered the pool, the service had been provided in full. His tone felt confrontational rather than professional. Meanwhile, the lifeguard with the freckles stayed back instead of addressing the matter directly. What should have been a straightforward visit turned into a frustrating and disappointing experience, leaving a very negative impression overall.

· via Google

Hygiene it’s completely disgusting in the changing rooms always rubbish around and the shower full of mold. The spa aria it’s always dirty he looks like he never been clean full of worms, hair and mold!!!!!!

· via Google

Rundown, dirty and in parts disgusting state of repair. The Venue leisure centre is in managed decline and being let to reach such a state of disrepair and neglect that it will be closed and we will lose a swimming pool as another will not be built. Staff are inactive, lazy and do not communicate with users. Had 2 staff members move a lane separator directly into my swimming path without any warning or informing me of their intention (which is why i have edited my review and lowered the star rating to lowest possible). The fact that no management reply to any complaint or issue raised tells you all you need to know about the intent of those in charge. Started going swimming again for health and shocked by the state of amenities. Some days the changing cubicle area stinks of urine (a problem they had 10 years ago when I last attended and still can't resolve). Fly infestation in the men's showers, that i was initially told they knew nothing about and on second reporting told they had tried everything and could not do nothing about. Ceiling fans / air ventilation are coveted in mold or dirt and look like they haven't been cleaned in years. Pool floor full of detritus and discraded tissue, which is never cleared. Lifeguards do nothing as some pool users are disruptive, put others in danger, engage in banned behaviour or swimmers in lanes doing as they please despite noted swimming policy. The pool has been allowed to degrade to a point where it is almost beyond acceptability. It is a disgrace to the town and council. What should be the heart of the community's health and well being is only another area causing issues for the majority of people who want a clean, safe place to swim.

· via Google

The staff are friendly, and I’m happy there’s new gym equipment. However, this review is about the biohazard that is the sauna. It is not worth the money I pay to come here. In fact, if I were paid, I still wouldn’t step inside. It wasn’t always like this. When it first opened, it was regularly cleaned. There was recently a so-called “deep clean”, and this is what I found the day after. The place is filthy. I genuinely think the most cleaning it gets now is when the worms eat the dead skin off the floor. Yes - worms. There are worms in the steam room. At one point they were falling from the ceiling. You walk in and there’s hair everywhere. It feels like you’re sitting directly on grime. In a room that gets hot, damp, and steamy - literally the perfect environment for bacteria - this is completely unacceptable. It should be properly disinfected and bleached, not ignored. The sauna is a danger to health. The top bench is broken, with nails sticking out between the gaps. God forbid the bench fails and someone falls through. On the left side of the bench you’ll find nicotine pouches that members have stuffed down between the slats. There is also a plaster stuck - basically welded - to the bench on the bottom right. I only discovered that by unknowingly resting my hand on it. There is dead skin dust everywhere. You breathe it in - there is that much of it. The glass doors are coated in grime, grit, and dirt. THE PHOTOS I AM ABOUT TO ADD WERE TAKEN ONE WEEK AFTER THE “DEEP CLEAN”. That alone shows how neglected hygiene is in this facility. What I find ironic is that Environmental Health is in the civic offices — literally on the other side of the car park.

· via Google