Brixton Recreation Centre

I have used the pool and the fitness suite at Brixton Recreation Centre and cannot comment on the other parts of this centre. Fitness suite too small, swimming pool to crowded. Entrance to centre is pretty dirty, cigarette ends everywhere. Reception is OK. Most of the staff usually nice but some of duty managers are there to kill the time, one of them describe himself as the most humble worker in the whole centre, if he was the most humble employee then BRC is doomed!!!
Bad experience!!!
Was there for the first time and I'll never go back again!!!

I can only repeat what has been said above…. A decent facility which is let down by the poor quality of staff. (Brittas Empire doesn’t even come close!)

Extremely rude staff, they seem to prefer chatting with each other than actually serving/helping customers.

I look forward to the new Clapham facility opening so I can cancel my Briston membership.

Good facilities and great pool but many staff seem anti-child.

We have an 11 year old son and (like many kids his age) he spends too long on the sofa. We try to take him length-swimming but the staff don't want to let him swim, after or near 8pm. There's nothing in the pool timetable to say he can't swim then (and it's a better time for him because there are fewer people in the pool after 8) but we have to argue either with the reception or with the poolside staff every time we go.

He has has at least one adult with him (and usually more) and he's a competent if a little slow swimmer - and with all this hassle he's getting discouraged about going at all.

It is such a shame that with such fantastic facilities the management team are clearly incapable of running and motivating their staff. As a result the staff are rude, incompetent, disinterested and occasionally comical in their complete ineptitude. As part of a sports team who had months and months of block bookings with this centre - I can't think of one occasion when they had the hired space ready for us to use at our allotted time. Consistently double booking squash courts and then arguing with you about how it's you in the wrong. never answering the phone to book anything. The list is endless.

I love Brixton and unfortunately am obliged to use the centre regularly as it's considerable nearer and more convenient than any other but every time I do I approach the whole thing with an expectation that something will go wrong and waste my time. A real shame.

Brixton Rec Center is amazing. I was looking for a gym to join but was put off by the prices of the high street options. Doesn't look much from the outside, but Brixton Rec has everything I could ask for and more. equipment is great and the classes are fabulous, and membership is affordable. going to the gym after work has become the highlight of my day.

UPDATE 26/03/11

An absolutely disgraceful public facility. Most of the problems stem from the incredibly poor/incompetent management and staff. Consistently rude, nonchalent and generally idiotic bafoons try to run this place but fail in such spectacular fashion that you don't know whether to laugh or cry.

Oh, and don't even bother trying to phone this place. I once called them 27 times in one weekend and nobody ever picked up.

I hate to say it, but privatise the fucker.

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I'm "told" Brixton Recreation Centre used to be a multi-story car park (well, that's what my flatmate says). It's kind of believable as this is probably the ugliest building in South London. That being said, the facilities are actually decent. 6 floors of sporting bliss to be precise. Squash, 5-a-side, basketball, badminton, swimming, gymnasium and much, much more. It's also very affordable and there are monthly fees. This definitely is NOT a premium health club (far from it), but it does have a little bit of Brixton charm and it's probably one of the only public sports clubs in south London with 6 squash courts, so i' happy!

Too much automation. Illogical, over the top security. Sloppy (can't be bothered) staff. Bad management.

Changing rooms constantly filthy in the evening.

The few (very few) good staff members stand out from the crowd. Others should be inspired by them.

It really does seem that the wrong type of people are working there. Anyone can press buttons, but we want it to be a nice experience. Employ people not androids or miserable rude sods!

All the above has to (ultimately) reflect bad management.

My 1 star rating is because they put water in the pool!

They have good facilities.

Although trying to use these facilities can be challenging because they are either under-staffed or the staff they do have can't be bothered to answer the phone to take bookings.

This place is my local leisure centre, and its facilities are pretty great - big pool, well equipped gym, good classes.

Unfortunately, it's let down by poor management and rude, lazy staff. Examples:

• Currently, some classes are being held in only half a studio to 'save space' - huh?

• Reception staff act as if they're doing you a favour by serving you - they're mostly more interested in chatting with each other. If they're not ignoring you, they're being incredibly rude and dismissive

• I've lost count of the number of times I've been wrongly charged for a court, or given the wrong time for a court, only to turn up at the time I asked for and be told I have to wait 30 minutes. Once I was charged £55 for a badminton court over the phone. It took me 2 months to get the money back.

• The online booking system is great in theory, but rarely works. Ditto for the ticket machines in reception.

• There is currently no air con on in the gym, which makes it like having a bikram workout...

And whilst the classes are good and generally lead by great teachers, they are often impossible to get onto and are attended by people who treat them more like a social gathering than an exercise class (saving spaces, chatting over the teacher) - not the centre's fault, but something the teachers could do more to prevent.

Great facility and very helpful staff, also a very reasonable set of prices. Very accommodating for when i take the kids, they have a large selection of activities available for all members and ages of a family.

But why are the changing rooms always so cold?

Brixton Recreation Centre is an excellent facility to get a workout at. I enjoyed the swimming pool. I visited at a time when there were not many people.

I only ever use the centre for its swimming pool. If you go in the evening the pool is quite badly lit but there is quite a lot of space and a few lanes to choose from depending on your swimming skills. I would strongly recommend wearing flip flops as the changing room floors are quite grubby but they do have good private showers. I would say that it is not worth a trip but if you live locally it is perfectly functional. It is easy to reach from the tube. Go right out of Brixton station, go under the railway bridge and it is the first right. You will see the centre down this street on the left.

A good place to work out, all the latest equiptment and always people around to help.

Evenings are busy so try to go in the afternoons.

Some people can hog the machines and can sit on them chatting to friends rather then using them.

If you live in the area it is the best place to go.

This was completely refurbished about a year ago and the facilities are excellent. I play badminton there regularly and bought an annual membership for £30 to get a discount. It now costs me just £3.95 to book a court for an hour on weekends and £5.40 on weekday evenings. You need to be quick with your advanced bookings though as spaces tend to get taken up quickly, but once you get a rhythm, it’s great.

There is strict security on the door with a security guard you have to tell what you’re there for before you’re allowed into reception, which is a bit odd, but I guess it must have been deemed necessary.