Stafford Leisure Centre

Bank Holiday Swim in cookie-cutter community pool.

Bank Holiday Swim in cookie-cutter community pool.

It’s bank holiday weekend and my local pool is closed, keen to get at least 3km done today, take the opportunity to add another local(ish) pool to the list. A quick search on Pool Finder at local towns within easy reach and Stafford Leisure Centre jumps out. Make the usual quick Google search to check the pool looks half decent, is open, and the timetable shows lane swimming. Decide to make a quick call to double-check, it’s also school half-term week, and many community pools have alternate schedules with kids splash and inflatable sessions.

The pool is a quick 30-minutes away, jump on the M6 Toll and arrive in perfect time for the midday adult only session. Pay the usual £5 entry fee and head to the shared changing rooms. Stafford Leisure Centre wins the award for the worlds smallest changing cubicles. You cannot stand in the thing and close the door! Bizarre.

Walkout to the pool deck and make a b-line to the three lanes on the far side. A packed slow and fast lane, and empty medium lane! Decision made. I’m am now certain there is an ‘off-the-shelf’ leisure centre shop somewhere! I could be anywhere, every new UK community pool is an almost identical clone of the next! Communal changing with the same lockers and cubicle doors, an infinity-edge 25m, 6-lane pool with a small teaching pool at one end!

Jump in and immediately notice the water temperature is far too warm and the shallow end pool depth is ridiculously shallow, less than a metre. Make a start and run through the usual 1km followed by 20x 100s. The pool is due to close at 1:30 pm, it’s now five-past, keen to add a 600m drill session and round out at 4km, don’t think I have time but make a start anyway. Finish up with just enough time for a quick 400m to complete another 4,000m session. Not bad following yesterdays 5k!

Head home back down the M6 toll, championship playoffs this afternoon, hoping Derby beat local West Brom rivals Villa (they didn’t!).

Stafford Leisure Centre 2 Gallery Photo Stafford Leisure Centre 2 Gallery Photo

Swim Stats

  • 5000 meters total swim
  • 1:32 pace / 100m
  • Garmin Swim Watch

Review

(58/100)

Cookie-cutter 25-metre pool in the centre of Stafford, it's a new facility so clean and tidy as you would expect although water temperature too high and changing room cubicles are tiny!

Pool Details

  • Length 25 meters
  • 6-lane pool
  • Indoor

Stafford Leisure Centre
Lammascote Rd, Stafford ST16 3TA, UK

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