Horfield Leisure Centre. Have Goggles, Will Travel Pool #126

Late night Bristol swim.

Great to see a unique pool and pool building design; you rarely find wood panel ceilings in public pools - just a shame no proper wave breaker lane ropes. The pool is clean and tidy, there is a good selection of lane swim sessions on the timetable, and the PAYG entrance fee is an average price.

Returning from Clevedon to the Bristol city centre flat via the M32 (AKA the long way!) to visit another Bristol city pool - Horfield Leisure Centre. Arrive for the late night 9pm session expecting it to be quiet, for the receptionist to tell me it’s my lucky night as there is one space left, and they’re usually fully booked!

In my first view of the pool, I see rope lane ropes and three double-width lanes; thankfully, I spot the fast lane on the far side of the pool is split into two individual lanes.

This is a nice pool; seeing a public pool with premium details, such as the varnished wood-clad ceiling and giant time/results board, is unusual. The University of Bristol does have a pool on campus in the city centre, but the large banner hung next to the digital time board suggests this is probably their main training/competition pool; just a shame they don’t roll out the proper lane ropes for public lane swim sessions.

On a side note, I’ve seemingly become addicted to post-swim watermelon-flavoured Fanta!