Eldest daughter has started a new club, two nights a week (on top of the football
) I have to drive her there then pick her up a couple of hours later so I figured it would be a perfect opportunity to spend some quality time with the smallest one!
She said she wanted to go swimming, which I'm totally on board with - so we went to the local council owned leisure centre - pool closed to the public/booked for private clubs/lessons on both days at the times I wanted - then I checked the council owned leisure centre in the next town over only to be told the same thing.
I used to go to Virgin active and I loved it so I figure this is the kick up the bum I need to go join a gym again, the biggest swanky chain one near me only lets kids in on the weekends - even though you need to buy a monthly kid membership. The other big gym near me would be almost £100 a month if I want to add the kids on and it looks more than a little rough round the edges and comes with massive limitations on times of use. Even a 'delightful' little hotel down the road want a premium price monthly membership (same as the all signing all dancing swanky one that doesn't let kids in) for me and £6 a session on top of that to take my daughter which is bonkers when you take into account what they're offering - which didn't even look (or smell) clean.
Schools don't do lessons anymore, my 9 year old has never had swimming lessons at school (and thanks to covid she hasn't had any private lessons for a long time either) and my 12 year old had a two terms of swimming in the last couple of years of primary school (although she is a strong and confident swimmer) I know of three pools that would have been doable that have closed in the past few years - there is literally nowhere (that I know of) to take my daughter to at a convenient time.
Does anyone know of a place I'm missing within the radius of Stafford to Stoke? I've already ruled out Nuffield, Mclub, both Freedom Leisure centres and the Stone House Hotel. Sadly Virgin, Gnosall and Alleyne's pools are no longer with us.