Blandford Leisure Centre - Blandford Forum

Address: Milldown Rd, Blandford Forum DT11 7DB, United Kingdom.
Phone: 1258455566.
Website: everyoneactive.com
Specialties: Gym, Basketball court, Cafe, Sauna, Swimming instructor.
Other points of interest: Wheelchair-accessible car park, Wheelchair-accessible entrance, Wheelchair-accessible toilet, Assistive hearing loop, Wheelchair-accessible seating, Sauna, Basketball court, Has a tennis court, Swimming pool, Toilet, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi, Restaurant, Shower, Free parking lot.
Opinions: This company has 174 reviews on Google My Business.
Average opinion: 3.9/5.

📌 Location of Blandford Leisure Centre

Blandford Leisure Centre Milldown Rd, Blandford Forum DT11 7DB, United Kingdom

⏰ Open Hours of Blandford Leisure Centre

  • Monday: 6:30 am–9 pm
  • Tuesday: 6:30 am–9 pm
  • Wednesday: 6:30 am–9 pm
  • Thursday: 6:30 am–9 pm
  • Friday: 6:30 am–8:30 pm
  • Saturday: 8 am–5 pm
  • Sunday: 9 am–5 pm

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"content": "

Blandford Leisure Centre: A Comprehensive Overview

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Blandford Leisure Centre, located at Milldown Road in the heart of Blandford Forum, Dorset, United Kingdom, stands as a prominent community facility offering a wide array of recreational and wellness services. Its postcode is DT11 7DB, making it easily accessible to both local residents and visitors seeking leisure, fitness, and social opportunities in the region. The centre operates under the management of Everyone Active, a well-known provider of leisure facilities across the UK, ensuring a standard level of service and maintenance expected from such establishments.

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Location and Accessibility

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Nestled on Milldown Rd in Blandford Forum, the centre benefits from its location within a popular market town, providing convenient access for the surrounding community and tourists alike. Its specific address, Milldown Rd, Blandford Forum DT11 7DB, is clearly marked, facilitating easy navigation for visitors. For those requiring direct contact, the centre can be reached by telephone at 1258455566, allowing for inquiries, booking, or feedback. Furthermore, comprehensive digital information is available online through their official listing on Everyone Active's website: everyoneactive.com.

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Accessibility is a key consideration for any modern leisure facility, and Blandford Leisure Centre demonstrates a commitment to inclusivity. Features designed to accommodate visitors with disabilities include a wheelchair-accessible car park, wheelchair-accessible entrance, wheelchair-accessible toilet facilities, and wheelchair-accessible seating areas throughout the building. An assistive hearing loop system is also installed, enhancing the experience for individuals with hearing impairments. These thoughtful provisions ensure that the centre is welcoming and usable for everyone, regardless of physical ability or sensory needs.

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Facilities and Specialties

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The core offering of Blandford Leisure Centre revolves around its extensive range of facilities, catering to diverse interests and needs. At the heart of its offerings is a modern swimming pool, a vital asset for the local community, providing space for various aquatic activities. Alongside the pool, members and visitors can utilize the main gymnasium, equipped with an array of cardiovascular and weight training equipment, suitable for all fitness levels and goals. For sports enthusiasts, the centre boasts a dedicated tennis court and a basketball court, fostering opportunities for organised leagues or casual games, promoting physical activity and social interaction.

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Recognizing the importance of relaxation and recovery, the centre features a sauna area, perfect for unwinding after a vigorous workout or swim. To support swimmers and maintain water quality, swimming instructors are available, providing guidance and ensuring proper technique. Beyond physical exercise, the facility caters to diverse preferences with additional amenities. A cafe offers refreshments and snacks, providing a convenient spot for visitors to refuel during their visit. Furthermore, a restaurant is available for those seeking a more substantial meal on-site. Essential services like Wi-Fi are provided throughout the venue, enabling users to stay connected. A toilet facility is readily accessible, and for added convenience, a free parking lot is available, eliminating the need for paid short-stay parking nearby.

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Additional Information and User Experience

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Several factors contribute to the overall user experience at Blandford Leisure Centre. The building's infrastructure, while functional, has received feedback suggesting it could benefit from an update to keep pace with contemporary designs. Despite this, aspects like cleanliness, particularly in the pool area, have been positively noted. The water temperature in the smaller pool is often appreciated for its comfort. The dedicated team at the centre is frequently praised for their friendliness and helpfulness, contributing significantly to the atmosphere. While the facility itself may feel dated in some parts, the welcoming staff and well-maintained core amenities like the pool and gym help to provide a decent overall experience.

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The presence of specific features is noteworthy. The availability of showers is crucial for swimmers or those using the sauna, allowing for proper hygiene. The comprehensive accessibility features ensure a smooth experience for visitors with mobility challenges. The combination of indoor sports courts, the swimming pool, and the relaxing sauna caters to individuals seeking both active pursuits and tranquil downtime within the same venue.

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Reputation and Recommendations

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The reputation of Blandford Leisure Centre is reflected in its user feedback, with an average rating of 3.9 out of 5 based on 174 reviews on Google My Business. This indicates a generally positive perception among the majority of users. While some reviews, such as one mentioning a family session in the kid's pool, have pointed out that the building and pool area feel outdated and could use renovation, these comments do not seem to detract significantly from the overall positive sentiment or the quality of core services like cleanliness, staff friendliness, and pool temperature.

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For someone considering visiting or joining Blandford Leisure Centre, the following is recommended:

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  • Check Membership Tiers: Understand the different membership options (guest passes, family memberships, single sessions) and their associated costs before planning frequent visits.
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  • Plan Visits Around Facilities: Identify which facilities are most important (e.g., swimming pool, tennis court, gym) and plan visits accordingly, especially during busy times.
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  • Consider Footwear: Pay attention to any notices regarding footwear inside the pool area (like the one mentioned in a review asking to remove shoes), as adherence helps maintain cleanliness.
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  • Utilize Accessibility Features: If visiting with mobility or sensory needs, familiarize yourself with the accessible parking, entrances, toilets, and seating areas beforehand.
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  • Explore All Amenities: Take advantage of the cafe, restaurant, and sauna during your visit to fully experience what the centre has to offer beyond the primary gym and pool facilities.
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  • Contact for Specific Needs: For detailed information about classes, instructor availability, or specific accessibility requirements not covered on the website, it is advisable to call the centre directly using the provided telephone number.
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Overall, Blandford Leisure Centre serves as a valuable community asset, providing diverse leisure and fitness opportunities. While acknowledging the potential need for facility upgrades based on user feedback, the centre continues to offer functional amenities, welcoming staff, and essential services that cater effectively to the recreational needs of its members and the public in Blandford Forum and the surrounding area.

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Key Features Summary

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Facility Type Examples Purpose
Indoor Recreation Tennis Court, Basketball Court Sporting activities, casual play
Water-based Activities Swimming Pool, Swimming Instructor Swimming lessons, recreation, fitness
Fitness & Wellness Gym, Sauna, Free Parking Exercise, relaxation, convenience
Food & Beverage Cafe, Restaurant Refreshments, meals during visit
Community & Accessibility Wheelchair Access, Staff Friendliness, Wi-Fi Inclusivity, connectivity, user experience

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Common User Feedback Points

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From the reviews available, users commonly mention aspects such as:

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  • The dated appearance of the building and pool area.
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  • Generally positive feedback on staff friendliness and helpfulness.
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  • Appreciation for the clean condition of the pool area (despite some disregard for shoe removal notices).
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  • The comfortable warmth of the small pool.
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  • The provision of accessible features for visitors with disabilities.
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  • Comments on the overall condition and maintenance of the facility.
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  • Opinions regarding the quality and frequency of swimming lessons or instructors.
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Conclusion

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Blandford Leisure Centre remains a significant leisure destination in Blandford Forum, offering a blend of traditional gym and pool facilities alongside community amenities like tennis and basketball courts. Managed by Everyone Active, it provides services catering to various age groups and interests. While facilities like the swimming pool and gym are functional, user feedback highlights a need for potential upgrades to the building's aesthetics. The welcoming staff and accessible design are consistently praised, contributing positively to the visitor experience. For individuals seeking swimming, fitness, sports, or simply a place to relax and socialize, Blandford Leisure Centre presents itself as a viable option, particularly considering its location, the availability of free parking, and the range of services it offers.

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"summary": "Blandford Leisure Centre is a community-focused facility in the UK offering swimming, fitness, sports courts, and relaxation amenities with good accessibility features.",
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👍 Reviews of Blandford Leisure Centre

Blandford Leisure Centre - Blandford Forum
Sarah C.
3/5

Went to a one hour family session in the kid's pool. Overall the building and pool area is very dated and needs renovating. The pool area and floors were clean though despite a lot of people ignoring the huge notice to remove shoes. The small pool is very warm which is nice. Very friendly staff. Just needs a bit of a work to bring the building back to life.

Blandford Leisure Centre - Blandford Forum
Katie A.
2/5

Went to the aqua fit on Thursday evening, there were too many people so i couldn't do the exercises properly due to touching people. Was a very boring lesson didn't even get slightly out of breath doing it. There was a huge queue at the end for the cubicles. I changed in the toilets out in the open. Not nice at all. Won't be going back to that aqua group again.

Blandford Leisure Centre - Blandford Forum
A F.
1/5

Gym is awful. Both rowing machines have been out of order since before Christmas - no resistance and now a broken seat too. All of the equipment in need of servicing, now charging over £8 for over 60s and no reduction in cost for things being broken!

Blandford Leisure Centre - Blandford Forum
Hollie C.
2/5

Won't be going back! Looks like so much fun walking into reception but it is extremely controlled. Very cold, can only go in either the large OR small pool. Sauna is only accessed if booked. 1 hour max swimming slots. Jacouzzi and slide out of order. If you leave when the hour is up expect to wait for a changing room, very cramped, VERY cold. Large pool restricts arm band users for 2/3rds of the pool so crammed and crowded down one end in school holidays. Small pool was a very miserable time, both adult and child (7) very cold and sardined. Lengthy roadworks into Blandford was the cherry on top but obviously not linked to the leisure centre.

Blandford Leisure Centre - Blandford Forum
Niki A.
1/5

The place is very dirty, with doors covered in sticky marks that seem to have accumulated over ages. Be cautious with their charges: I paid £45 for the first month, but 20 days later, they automatically charged me £60 without notice. Their billing practices are suspicious, and their math around charges seems questionable. I wouldn’t recommend this gym for personal use. It’s overpriced for the quality they offer, and they appear to engage in deceptive practices with direct debits.

Blandford Leisure Centre - Blandford Forum
PS
5/5

A well equipped gym with all the usual isolation machines. Comprehensive free weight area with Smith machine, squat rack etc. Only one minor criticism…machines that break down take ages to get fixed.
Update: the gym has recently been equipped with new machines!

Blandford Leisure Centre - Blandford Forum
Rob C.
1/5

Turned up today for family fun swim “with slide” to find the slide closed. No discount offered, no mention of it when paying. Very poor service. Very disappointed. Not coming here again

Blandford Leisure Centre - Blandford Forum
Michael G.
1/5

They changed their swimming rimetable without amending the website or the one on their front desk, this caused small children to cry. Unimpressed.

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