This pool is a bit different... (Waterside Pool (Ryde, Isle of Wight))

Member Name: JJJJ

Product:	Waterside Pool (Ryde, Isle of Wight)
Date:	10/04/09 (510 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Cool roof!

Disadvantages: Not much privacy

Swimming is an activity that I generally enjoy, but also one which I don't partake in as often as I should due to my general lazyness! Anyway, when I do go, it's either in one of two places; 'The Heights' in Sandown, or 'The Waterside Pool' in Ryde. Seeing as I've already reviewed The Heights, it's now the turn of my other venue of choice to be in the dooyoo spotlight.

The Waterside is a small swimming pool which has an unusual feature in the form of a retractable roof. Yes, you heard correctly - a retractable roof. On hot and sunny days, the hydraulic roof 'slides' open, whilst on rainy and cold days it remains tightly closed.

Situated next to the boating lake on the Esplanade, the 25 metre pool has large glass windows all the way round, meaning that those who like a bit of privacy when splashing around will be left disappointed.

The pool used to be 'open air' until the roof was added in the 90's at a fairly hefty cost - but it also meant that the popularity of the pool received a (short lived) boost with customers keen to see the new and ambitious structure.

The Waterside Pool has a secondary shallow pool for kids which is still open air, and located adjacent to the main pool - but this is often closed for some unknown reason.

The information from the website tells us that the Waterside Pool is open all year, offering facilities for everyone ranging from toddlers to 50+ groups, with activities covering casual swimming to snorkelling, aquafit classes to swimming lessons and pool lifeguard training.

Although I haven't visited the Waterside Pool recently, in the past I have found it to be well maintained and clean. As a council owned venue, the price for a swim is fairly reasonable, and certainly inline with the other pools on the Island - so no complaints there.

The changing rooms are small but adequate and offer the usual facilities of showers and plenty of lockers. Unfortunately, there isn't a café in the pool - but there is one next door. Unusually however, there is a drinks vending machine right next to the waters edge.

For novelty value, the Waterside Pool always makes for an interesting visit - no, it does haven't water slides, or top class facilities - but how many swimming pools have a roof that mechanically opens!?.

Summary: Decent swimming pool