The Pavilion Leisure Centre

Reading the reviews below seems most people have had a pretty bad experience here. So to try and put them in context. The pool is in the centre of Bromley right next to a rather impressive shopping centre. It is in the middle of some major building works they are adding bowling and soft play not sure if they are improving the pool or the changing rooms. The entrance area and reception are are in the middle of works so not much room for queuing we walked straight in when we arrived but the queues were long when we left.
The showers were fine the changing rooms not great and the pool is strictly family leisure. Nowhere to swim lengths here and nowhere to dive. But as a busy if small family pool its fine. Bubble beds, a rather good wall waterfall, a large water jet, tipping bucket all were working. The wave machine is a bit tame to be honest. There is a separate toddler pool.
The only real reason to visit is the slides be aware though these are the only slides I know that operate a height rule. 1.4m to ride Kraken and 1.1m for The Buccaneer. So Kraken first an exhilarating fast slide my 8 year old managed to slip past the height mark and was impressed seriously fast a great slide. The Buccaneer is more leisurely but still a solid slide. They both snake above the main pool worth a visit but probably just the once for the experience. I would recommend travelling a couple of stops further out of town if your kids are keen swimmers to the pool at Swanley

I went here on the 30^th June 2011. First time I used this leisure centre and definitely the last. Changing rooms were a bit dirty, empty glass wine bottle in the family changing room that we used. Was really looking forward to this trip as it was the first time taking my 15 month old daughter swimming and I had my 9 year old daughter and her friend with me also.
Swimming pool wasn’t that great and was too packed. Were constantly getting splashed.
I wasn’t able to take my pushchair past the lobby, but was advised to leave it there as a member of staff are watching the buggies. I was a bit worried about doing this but didn’t really have much choice. Low and behold, my buggy was stolen. I was so annoyed, but what got to me the most was the lack of customer service or care. Manager was useless, all he could say was ‘There’s nothing we can do’, didn’t even offer to let me use the phone to report it, they don’t have cctv and they didn’t bother contacting Glades security to check theirs. Just wasn’t interested at all. His attitude was almost like I had done something wrong. I emailed the Pavilion that same day with a complaint, chased this up on the 5^th July as I hadn’t had a response, and they replied saying they are still investigating the incident. Emailed again yesterday (14^th July) and am still awaiting a response. I’m really disgusted with the lack of interest.
They’ve got lots of staff to make sure that groups of children aren’t being a nuisance but no one when there’s an actual real issue!
Updated 22/​07/​2011:
Just would like to update that although they didn’t give me value of the stolen pushchair, they have given me the full amount for the replacement pushchair (£130). Although it took quite awhile to get an acceptable response, pleased that it’s now been dealt with

I had stopped going to the Pavillion’s swimming pool because the changing rooms were always dirty and the water slides rarely in operation. Guess what! The facilities are still dirty, the water slides are not operating and the pool is even worse than it was — it needs a complete overhaul and re-​grouting. How shocking that this multi-​million pound centre, paid for by we tax payers is in such a state and to add insult to injury nearly as expensive to join as joining a private gym! Years ago the management was taken over by an independent company in order to improve the running of the place… someone’s head should roll.

Dirty, uninterested staff, not such great facilities, no proper swimming pool. It’s just a mess. They don’t even id you properly as you go in. I’d rather spend the extra and go to a proper spa.

The Pavillion is a leisure centre surgically attached to Bromley’s main shopping centre; the Glades. There’s a good range of activities available: aerobics/​martial arts classes etc and a decent sized swimming pool. There are 5 squash courts — I’ve found you need to book at least 48 hours in advance to get the slot you want. The complex is part of a larger local network and membership with one gets you reductions at West Wickham swimming baths and Beckenham too. You don’t even need to be a member to use the services — though the nominal annual membership fee knocks the price of most services down by 10−25%.

The swimming pool at the Pavillion Leisure Centre is mostly clean and family friendly. Entertainment to keep the family amused includes a shallow children’s pool, water fountains, two water slides and a wave machine. The cubicles are spacious and a few even contain their own shower. The only down side is the toilets which often smell and don’t appear to be cleaned often enough. The Pavillion has its own car park and there’s also a public one opposite so driving there isn’t a problem and the Glades Shopping Centre is just next door so a trip to the shops can be easily combined with the outing.