Swim Now Avis 

Me and my daughter started lessons a few months ago. Jenna has been absolutely fantastic, she really takes the time to explain everything in detail and ensures we perfect the technique, we’ve learnt so much and really look forward to our lessons every week.

Zero flexibility, zero stars. Appalling customer service.
This review is for Swim now
One-way policy. They can cancel on you, but you can't have an emergency.**
Absolutely shocking service from Swim Now at Elk Mill, Oldham. They cancelled my first lesson at the last minute due to instructor sickness meaning I finished work early and lost money for absolutely nothing.
The following week, I had a genuine emergency and broke down on a main road in an HGV. Despite the fact that they had just let me down days prior, they hid behind "company policy" and refused to offer any flexibility or even a partial refund.
It’s a completely one-sided arrangement. They cost you money when they cancel, but the second you have an unavoidable emergency, they pocket your cash. Do yourself a favour and avoid this company.

Just to begin with the positive: the swim teacher is amazing and very accommodating (even a substitute was very pleasant), which even made up for short-term pool closure or sickness of the swim teacher - this can always happen and is not the reason for the low star count, on the contrary the swim teacher is 5 stars. Our oldest learned swimming within the 6 lessons and our little one is close to it.
What made me write this review is the lack of communication and the inability to organize swim lessons (= schedule lessons, either via phone or via e-mail). There is no system that shows the times of the lessons and after booking the invoice doesn't have it either - so, you better take notes. When a lesson is cancelled you need to chase and try to get someone on the phone. Although a misunderstanding, a no-show of the swim teacher wasn't clearly communicated. I shared this after the first time as recommendation with the company to recommending improvement and requesting change in communication for future interaction.

I had a wonderful experience with Neve. In less than three months, she taught me how to swim and, more importantly, helped me become so much more confident in the water.

I had spent most of my life unable to swim because of a real fear of water. Neve was incredibly encouraging, patient and kind. She really knew what to teach and, just as importantly, how to teach it. I completely trusted her guidance and the way she progressed each lesson at the right pace for me.

She was also very accommodating and flexible with my schedule, which made the whole experience even easier.

In just three months, Neve completely transformed my perspective on swimming. What once felt frightening is now something I can enjoy, and I can finally swim independently with confidence.

I’m genuinely so grateful to Neve for helping me overcome a fear I had carried for most of my life. I couldn’t recommend her enough!
The Admin staff were fabulous and easy to contact; cancellation was easy when I felt achieved my purpose of the lessons.

At the age of 64 l finally decided to fulfil a lifetime dream and learn how to swim! I was nervous getting into the water, however Jason was reassuring and patient with me. He has encouraged me and helped me build my confidence in the water. Jason has been a great instructor and l am loving my lessons.

I had initial swimming lessons with Neve who was great. She was bubbly and friendly and showed me techniques to improve my confidence and swimming. She was really helpful when times had to be changed to accommodate my travel and was encouraging in the pool at all times.
As others have mentioned the customer service for the amount you're paying isn't the best. I was charged twice for my direct debit despite me already having assurances they would only charge me on one date. Management wouldn't refund but did say they'd pause one month payment to catch up so let's see.

Jason is the most incredible swim instructor, patient, relatable and kind. My 15 year old daughter with ASD was a non swimmer and was swimming lengths by lesson 3. Absolutely unbelievable, could not recommend him enough.

Isabella in Cheltenham was so nice. She is so patient.

Good swimming lessons.
Sabrina was a friendly and patient instructor. My son made fast progress per session and she catered Highly for me with my neurodiverse and Disability issues. Focusing on our 1-to-1 needs as both adults and child.
Highlighted our goal to excel at building water confidence me as a nervous beginner and child wanting to improve and learn different strokes.
Loved that instructor is in the water with students.

Tailored private lessons is great to customise teaching to your needs and helps students progress quickly.

Really Great teaching from Sabrina. Her experience, knowledge, guidance and patience were second to none. I recommend Swim Now - Maida Vale -One-to-one and two-to-one classes.

I honestly can’t thank Shamah enough! She has genuinely made a lifelong dream of mine come true.

When I first started, I could barely put my face under the water, and the thought of moving confidently in water felt completely out of reach.

Shamah’s patience, encouragement, expertise, and belief in me have been incredible. She never made me feel embarrassed or rushed, and she always knew exactly how to help me overcome my fears and build my confidence.

Being able to move confidently in the pool, is something I never thought I would achieve, and it is all thanks to Shamah. She is an absolutely amazing instructor, and I couldn’t recommend her highly enough.

If you’re nervous, lacking confidence, or think you’ll never be able to swim—ask for Shamah! She will believe in you until you believe in yourself.

I was looking for some lessons on front stroke as it is my weakest one. It all started great, easy to sign up and Danny got the taster session booked with Poppy in Manchester. Poppy had to cancel on the day due to illness and moved to the following week on the Tuesday. The taster went well and I was happy to start lessons. Poppy was taking annual leave, so we arranged frequency and when my next two lessons would be.

On the Thursday i emailed Danny, who took payment for my taster, to ask how i pay for lesson which I was attending that day

Over the weekend, i received 2 calls, a voicemail, 3 text messages and an email from Donya the regional manager to ask for feedback on my taster session, if i would like to continue and advised if i dont want to book in they will give my slot to another customer.

After the first message and call, i knew it wasnt urgent and prioritised my personal situation over the weekend. I had already confirmed to the instructor i was proceeding and waiting to hear back on payment arrangements. It was a red flag that management hadn't communicated with Poppy, and then unnecessarily hassled a client at a weekend for feedback and confirmation.

I replied to Donya on Monday to advise i found the contact excessive for non urgent information in unsociable hours across a weekend, especially when i had already confirmed i was proceeding with lessons to the instructor and they were booked in around her annual leave.

Donya replied to clarify they called me Friday and Saturday not over the weekend. However this is incorrect, the calls were made Saturday morning and Sunday afternoon. Donya also advised again, they needed to clarify i was proceeding with lessons

I have worked in Customer Service for nearly 20 years now, and if management especially are rude it speaks volumes for the culture and the tone of the overall customer service. So i decided i would go elsewhere for lessons and let this be a warning. I didn't want to see what happened if something went wrong down the line, given the lessons are so expensive!

I messaged Poppy to apologise that i will not be continuing with SwimNow due to my experience with Donya, and if she can get Danny or anyone to send me the details on how to pay for the lesson i had already had that would be appreciated.

I received an invoice and it was paid immediately.

Donya contacted me again the next day to ask if payment has been made, and re-sent the link for payment if it hasn't.

I replied to advise it was paid yesterday, and asked them to check the system to confirm it is paid for peace of mind. And once confirmed not to contact me again. Donyas reply was 'All received . thank you and have a great evening!' Again, totally unnecessary contact by Donya, they should have checked the system and it was the completely wrong tone to take with an unhappy customer.

I've never experienced such an odd, passive aggressive customer service in all my life. I cannot believe this person is a Regional Manager.

Poppy was great, but i will not pay a company who has staff who liaise with customers the way Donya has

I've had to block the mobile number Donya used to prevent any more unnecessary contact, which was starting to feel harassing

I bought a package of 6 lessons. Used 4. And they refuse to use the other two. They stopped answering my calls or emails, their statement is I have used my lessons. They will not accept my proof of how many times I have seen my swim teacher.
But at the same time they sent me emails asking if I wanted to buy another package!

Avoid those scammers

My experience with Sabrina has been great so far, went from being afraid to being in the water to actually look forward to my lessons, I couldn't have done that without swim now or Sabrina. The one star down is due to them not being flexible. I need that in my life at times.

I had a really positive experience with Swim Now. I work a variety of shift patterns therefore I was not able to conform to weekly lessons, but the flexi package they offer accommodated my needs. My instructor Sabrina was great with communication and helped me to book my lessons in advance which I really appreciated given my schedule. One of my aims was to be more confident in the water and Sabrina definitely helped with that. Every lesson she was very patient and encouraging and always had great energy. Sabrina is very good at adapting her teaching style to different people. All in all I had a positive experience and I think the session duration and price for 1 to 1 is great.

I have been having lessons with Swim now at Blackburn. My instructor Cara has been amazing. She is patient with me and a good teacher. I’ve progressed this past year from a beginner to swimming more confidently and being comfortable in the water. I still have loads to learn but I know I’m in good hands with Cara. She listens, is friendly and puts in the effort.

Sabrina is a kind, patient and very knowledgeable coach....she makes me feel very comfortable and uses some amazing techniques to overcome stumbling blocks ...highly recommend

Currently learning with cara a blackburn
She is without dought an excellent instructor points out things you get wrong and things you get right.Cara is a very pleasant girl and is easy to get on with and creats a relaxed atmosphere i would recommend her to anyone thinking of learning to swim. Andrew.

Sam taught my boys for a week of intensive lessons. He was an excellent teacher and they really enjoyed it, we hope to be back!

The service I have received since beginning my children’s swimming lessons is absolutely appalling. The company are continuing to take money via direct debit even though they have assured me 3 times that it will no longer be taken. The swimming teacher that we’ve had was off for 6 consecutive weeks over the summer, and we were offered nothing else. What started as a short intensive block of swimming lessons, has turned into a nightmare of money being taken and no lessons to show for it. Every time I call staff are extremely unhelpful, promising to call back, and then nothing. AVOID AT ALL COSTS.

My Teacher Poppy is very nice plenty of patience and we have a good ubderstanding. I used to swim lost my nerve as left my gym for 6 yrs.