Crewe Lifestyle Centre is not your average leisure centre. While offering the usual mixture of a pool, gym and library, it also delivers a crucial combination of social care and a truly local feel something that can be hard to come by in a building of this size.
Having dined, delved, dodged and dined at leisure centres up and down the county, I can say for once that I’ve come across a building that not only feels used by the local community, but that is part of the local community.
What Is Crewe Lifestyle Centre?
Nestled in Moss Square in the heart of Crewe, the leisure and community centre opened its doors in 2016. As with many local authority-run leisure businesses, Crewe Lifestyle Centre brings together a number of services that previously occupied separate buildings. These include the main leisure and wellbeing offerings of a fitness suite, indoor pool and library, plus the community and social-care services.
The leisure side of things is operated by Everybody Health & Leisure on behalf of Cheshire East Council – and that, in my experience, is a big plus. Having worked in the sector, I can say first-hand that an embedded local operator often knows its audience better than a faceless national chain.
Address: Moss Square, Crewe, CW1 2BB.
Phone: 01270 685580.
It’s easy to overlook the ‘lifestyle’ in the name, but this is a building that was designed with a specific brief in mind: to bring local wellbeing, leisure and social care together in one accessible building.
Why I Love This Place
While I’m sure that many a leisure centre executive has waxed lyrical about the importance of state-of-the-art kit to attract a broad audience, I don’t believe that a good leisure centre is defined by its kit it’s defined by its flexibility.
You see, a good swimming pool or gym is one that can get you through a bad day – and Crewe Lifestyle Centre has a range of facilities that ensure that bad day is not had. No mood for the pool? No problem. Skip the weights and pop down for a class. Too many toddlers for your liking at the local pool? Crewe has family sessions that keep the little ones entertained while the parents get their much-needed headspace.
In my experience, that flexibility is what makes a leisure centre membership go from a January novelty to a true staple of the weekly routine.
The Pool: First Impressions
The main pool at Crewe Lifestyle Centre is a 25-metre eight-lane indoor complex, with a further learner pool on-site. In many ways, that’s the real plus of a building of this size: it caters to all levels of swimmer without the fuss and bother of competing with public leisure and holiday centre-style pools.
There are separate swim sessions for those looking for more intensive lane swimming and those wanting to simply float away their worries. I found the separation of facilities to be a real boon, having swum at centres where toddler floatie sessions and competitive racing sessions have to share the same six-lane pool.
The centre offers a range of swimming-related sessions, from aqua classes and sports clubs to family and learn-to-swim sessions. Swimming is one of the most effective forms of physical activity for returning to exercise after injury, pregnancy or a period of inactivity and aqua-based fitness is one of my favourite ways to keep fit and low-impact.
Swimming Lessons: More Than Just Learn-to-Swim
If learning to swim or keeping your skills sharp is on the agenda, know that Crewe Lifestyle Centre has a range of sessions to cater for all ages and abilities.
From parent-and-toddler sessions to preschool Ducklings, school-age swimming, adult learn-to-swim, SEND and Masters coaching, the Crewe team has it covered. I’m a massive fan of the range on offer, as many a leisure centre I’ve visited across Cheshire and beyond has failed to offer much beyond the odd adult lesson, letting those of us who didn’t learn to swim as children grow up in fear of the water.
The water is, quite literally, the best place to learn to swim – and the best place to relearn to swim.
The Gym: Bigger Than It Looks
With around 100 fitness stations, Crewe Lifestyle Centre’s fitness suite has a vast array of kit to keep even the most serious of gym-goers happy. Recently revamped, new kit includes Omnia and Outrace rigs, plate-loaded strength and conditioning equipment and IFI-accredited machines designed specifically with older or mobility-impaired users in mind.
Now, many a gym boasts a range of machines catering for a range of needs. But I’m always impressed by a centre that goes above and beyond to offer a range of rehabilitation or mobility classes, plus equipment that aids those with reduced mobility – something I feel is a mark of an embedded local operator that truly understands the needs of the area it operates in.
Is It Good for Beginners?
Yes, and that’s something I think it’s worth highlighting.
The centre has a range of group fitness classes and swimming-related opportunities, plus an exercise referral and rehabilitation programme. For those nervous of heading to the main gym, I think it’s worth noting that there are specialist classes that can gently guide you into using the main fitness suite.
After all, getting in can often be the hardest part: I find that without a group session to lead the way, many beginners find the prospect of a busy weights area a little daunting.
Opening Hours: When’s the Best Time to Go?
Gym and main leisure facilities open generally from 6am–10pm weekdays and 7am–6pm weekends.
I think that speaks for itself, really. For those of us with a busy weekday schedule but the opportunity to squeeze in a morning session or an evening wind-down, those early opens and late closes are a blessing. The reduced weekend hours are still more than enough to squeeze in a full session, in my opinion.
That said, it’s always worth bearing in mind that sessions, particularly around the pool, can be affected by holidays and other seasonal factors.
Why Not Make It a Day Out?
As mentioned, the building also boasts the town’s public library and community and social-care services. The brief was to allow for greater cross-referral of services meaning those visiting the building for a swimming session or a physio session might also enjoy a quiet read or a gentle wander in the adjacent library.
I think that’s a really clever use of space, and one that has been key to the success of many a local authority leisure centre. After all, health and wellbeing can’t be separated from social care, and a building that facilitates both in tandem can do far more for the local community than a traditional gym or library could alone.
The centre has also drawn attention for its commitment to sustainability and for encouraging greater community engagement with its flagship building – a great sign for its future.
The Sports Hall and Classes
In addition to the pool, gym and library, there’s also a sports hall and a range of group fitness classes. The hall is a multi-purpose venue that can be booked for five-a-side football or bowls, or can be hired out for birthday parties, exhibitions and – yes – even weddings.
I can’t think of a better venue for a big day out, really. Light, airy and flexible, the hall is also close to public transport and plenty of on-site parking for those arriving by car two ticks in the box for a venue that wants to host big events.
For those of us not tying the knot, though, the classes are a must. I find that group sessions are a great motivator for getting out and about, particularly in the colder months. Without the pressure of a one-to-one trainer, a group session gives you the chance to have a chat and a laugh while keeping fit in the company of like-minded people.
For many, a scheduled session is a great motivator I find that the prospect of skipping a session feels far more daunting than skipping an unscheduled swim.
The Café: A Small but Important Detail
Inside the building, there’s also a Taste for Life Café.
Again, this is something that I feel many a leisure centre overlooks the provision of a café helps to change up the routine and allows for a change of scenery. Parents can enjoy a coffee while their children finish their swimming sessions, older visitors can enjoy a chat, and swim-mates can recover with a drink after their session.
As a visitor, I find that facilities with good café provision tend to feel a little less like a gym and a little more like a local hangout. Crewe has that special something, in my opinion.
Who Is It For?
Honestly? Everyone. Particularly:
Beginners looking for a gentle introduction to the world of fitness.
Families with younger children, including those looking for swimming lessons or junior sports sessions.
Older visitors who value accessible equipment and extra opportunities such as mobility classes.
Serious swimmers who value the eight-lane main pool.
Those who want somewhere friendlier than your average gym.
Injured or recovering visitors looking for a bespoke exercise referral service.
All in all, it’s a great place for those who might not have considered a gym or pool before – or who want somewhere different from their usual.
What Should I Know Before I Go?
Nobody’s perfect, and I think it’s always good to highlight the things to bear in mind before trying somewhere out for the first time.
The pool has a range of sessions, so it’s always worth double-checking the timetable if swimming is a priority. Similarly, gyms can get busier at peak times early mornings and weekends, in particular. If possible, it’s always good to try a facility out at off-peak times to get a feel for the building.
With a range of services on offer, it’s also possible for the building to feel busier than expected – and while I know that many enjoy the buzz of a full leisure centre, it’s always good to try a few different times of day to find what works for you.
Finally, it’s worth bearing in mind that many leisure centres have a personality a vibe that you might enjoy or that you might not. It’s always good to give a new place a few chances before deciding if it’s for you.
How to Get the Most Out of It
If you’re a new visitor or a new member, I think the most important things to try are:
An induction if available or a chat to the reception team to find out what kit is best for you.
The pool I find that it’s easy to get a little daunted by the main gym, so a session in the pool is a great way to ease yourself into things.
A regular class I think it’s always good to try a group session as well, particularly if you’re looking for a little extra motivation and the chance to meet some new people. A regular slot same day, same time helps to build that all-important fitness routine.
The library and the café – after a swimming session in particular, I find that it’s a great chance to unwind and enjoy a well-deserved post-exercise drink or read.
I would also highlight the importance of checking out the website before your first session Everybody Health & Leisure has an excellent site that details all the facilities offered by Crewe Lifestyle Centre, as well as current session and booking options. Small things, but they can make all the difference.
FAQs
Is Crewe Lifestyle Centre suitable for complete beginners?
Yes. With a range of swimming pool and gym sessions, the centre has something for everyone.
Does it have a swimming pool?
Yes. There’s a 25-metre eight-lane main pool and a separate learner pool.
Can children learn to swim there?
Yes. The centre offers a range of family and learn-to-swim sessions.
Is the gym accessible?
Yes. There’s a range of equipment to cater for older and mobility-impaired visitors.
Where is it?
It is located at Moss Square, Crewe. The leisure services are provided by Everybody Health & Leisure.
Final Thoughts
Crewe Lifestyle Centre is a place that offers something for everyone. Combining the facilities of a pool, gym, sports hall and library, it’s a building that I think has it all. And that’s not just on paper in real life, as someone who has visited many similar facilities across the county, it delivers that variety and flexibility to a high standard.
So why not treat yourself to a visit? If exercise has always seemed a bit of a chore, try Crewe I find that a session in the pool or at the library makes a really nice day out. If you’re already a member, why not treat yourself to a new kind of session or class?
Either way, I hope you enjoy the facilities and can see why I’m such a fan.
Check out the latest session and facilities information on the Crewe Lifestyle Centre website, find out more about leisure services from Cheshire East Council, and read more about the building and its ethos on the Everybody Health & Leisure site.
