Let's leisure up! (The Venue Hertsmere Leisure Centre (Borehamwood))

Member Name: Absy_Baby

Product:	The Venue Hertsmere Leisure Centre (Borehamwood)
Date:	15/06/09 (302 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A range of facilities, new, clean

Disadvantages: Can be expensive, teenage boys

The Venue is the new sports centre in Borehamwood and one of the four new centres within Hertsmere. It is located on the ground of the old leisure centre, which is (next to the Civic Offices). If you park in the civic offices public car park behind the centre, make sure you take your receipt in to reception, they will give you your money back.

The Venue is a modern sports centre and contains:
An Olympic size Swimming Pool
A smaller pool, (which changes depth, it can be used as a childs pool or deeper for classes)
Play Zone
Side Kicks Cafe
Beaumont's Health Club - Fitness studio (the gym)
Beaumont's Health Club - Health suite
Crèche

Swimming pool~~~~~~~~

I am a swimmer, I can't comment on the gym here although I have friends who go here and think it's great. You can see the gym from the pool, it is upstairs and has full length windows which over look the pool, which I admit can be very off putting.

The changing rooms for the swimming pool are mixed, which I don't particularly mind expect for when teenage boys are on a mission to look over the top. There are separate showers and toilets.

Lockers are available for 50 pence and you do get your money back afterwards. There are hairdryers and plastic bags to put wet costumes in, that are also free of charge.

Side Kicks Cafe~~~~~~~~~~~

This cafe is only open is the day, if you go in to the centre and except food you will be disappointed, unless you like what vending machines can offer, they have a chocolate bar, crisps, and drinks one.

The Cafe offers hot food, just snacky stuff, and junk food (great option for a health centre), and hot sandwiches, panini's etc.

The cafe is reasonable priced, and not a complete rip off. Personally I would wait until I got home.

Beaumont's Health Club~~~~~~~~~~

(The Health Suite)

This contains a spa pool/jacuzzi, which is usual size, not massive, so if there are a lot of people in there, you will have to wait for a space to jump in.

There is also a sauna, this is again, not huge, and the usual, made out of wood, with the hot rocks bit, and a window in the door, it can get crowded, and can be annoying if people want it hotter than you do, or if people are in and out and keep opening the door. But this can happen in any sauna.

Lastly is the steam room, my favourite part of the health club. It is a room, with glass floor to ceiling windows, and door, and is, you guessed it, full of steam. It completely clears out your pores and your sinuses, it's great, better than any tablets, and natural. This can make you sweat and feel light headed, you must always keep hydrated when using the health suites facilities.

(The Fitness Suite)

Like I previously said, I cannot say much about the gym as I have never been a gym go-er. I have stepped in to the gym, it is quite spacious and modern, and from what I gather, it has quite up to date equipment. The other aspect is if you become a member or not, you get an introduction to the gym and it's specific machines etc.

Crèche~~~~~~~~~~~

Sorry but as a childless 24 year old, I can't really comment, a lot of people can be seen putting their kids in the crèche, so it can't be that bad.

Overall~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I like this facility, it is one of the newest in the Hertsmere and surrounding areas, it is not cheap (but what is these days), swimming for 1 adult costs £3.75, now I know I can go to another pool close by and pay £2, but the facilities are worth it, a guaranteed hot shower, without worrying about my tetanus being up to date.

The Venue offer a membership card, it is only available if you live in the local area of Borehamwood, I don't live here, and its sister centre, Bushey Grove is the same, you need to live in Bushey, I live in the middle so apparently am not eligible for the membership that entitles me to cheaper fares. This annoys me, I live the borough of Hertsmere and these are both Hertsmere pools. Where is the logic in that?

The Venue also offer a membership card that is fir the gym and other facilities, and this can be used at any Hertsmere facility at any time. It costs about £40 per month for unlimited access to all facilities, including gym, pool, health suite. I have never had the urge to spend £40 a month on this.

Summary: A nice addition to the Hertsmere area, in which a new leisure centre was needed