Harrow Leisure Centre, Byron Hall

We went for a Tamil function to Byron hall..it's very large spacious and lots of car parking but you have to pay

This is a great place to play badminton – the courts are well maintained and it's generally a good atmosphere. The only downside is that the lights can be a bit too bright at times. I also wanted to give a special mention to Tola at reception, who was incredibly helpful with a few queries I had recently. She handled everything promptly and professionally, even while managing other customers, and stayed past her shift to make sure everything was sorted. Really appreciated her patience and dedication!

Where should I start... My experience here has been deeply disappointing. James, the manager, completely lacks customer service skills, and unfortunately, his attitude seems to reflect on the whole team. The staff are generally rude and unfriendly. The white lady at the front reception is especially rude to most people, and the man with the long beard at the membership enquiry desk is even worse — unhelpful and disrespectful. That said, I want to acknowledge the few positive exceptions. There’s a young woman who wears a hijab and usually works in the evenings — she is always friendly and helpful. There was also a European lady who used to work at the membership desk who was kind, and the swimming teachers Peter and Angela are both lovely. Aside from those individuals, my experience has been frustrating. I’ve even submitted a formal complaint about James, but no one ever responded. My son and I attend swimming lessons here, and communication is awful. When classes are cancelled, no one calls or informs us in advance — we only find out after making the trip and asking at reception. The swimming classes are often overcrowded — sometimes 10 or 12 kids in a class meant for a maximum of 8. Even the teachers have raised concerns, but nothing changes. When we tried to move to an earlier class (as suggested by the teacher), the man at membership was no help at all. We had to call and sort it ourselves. Then, at our first lesson in the new class, Angela (who had told us she’d be off) had no cover arranged. We waited 15 minutes before anyone even acknowledged the situation. A Black lady at reception tried to help, but after going to check, she never came back, and we eventually saw other parents leaving. No one apologised, and the class — which should’ve ended at 9:30 — was simply cancelled without notice. While waiting, I witnessed more poor customer service. A man whose access card wasn’t working asked the front desk staff to let him in because he was running late. The same rude receptionist ignored him, and when he commented, “Oh yes, I’m invisible here,” she still didn’t respond. On top of all this, the facilities are not maintained properly. The toilets are dirty, with tissues often on the floor, and the changing rooms are disgusting. We pay for this service, and it’s simply not acceptable. I’ve now cancelled my direct debit for both myself and my son. I’m writing this to let others know about my experience and to urge you: please avoid this place until there is proper management and serious improvements.