Our fixtures list for ‘away’ galas is provided below.
Thanet members should enter galas via our Gala Entries website [Link].
Note that SE Region, Nationals and Champs entries have to be submitted directly via event websites (see event links below, where available / published).
SE Region Winter short course champs – 5th/6th Nov 2023
Winchester Swimming Pool
Entries, QTs, etc: via Swim SE Website [link]
(allow a week to complete the registration process)
National Winter SC Champs – Early December 2023
Ponds Forge, Sheffield – scroll down for venue info
Entries, QTs, etc: via Swim England website (details to follow)
(allow a week to complete the event registration process)
East Invicta Gala – 29th/30th October & 19th/20th November 2023
Dover Pool, Whitfield, Dover
Warm-ups: TBC
Kent Championships
K2 Crawley (28th Jan/5th Feb 2023)
LAC London (11th Feb/12th Feb/25th Feb/26th Feb)
KCASA Event web-page here: [link]
(Most swim families drive up to the event each day)
British Summer Championships – Late July
Tollcross Centre, Glasgow – scroll down for venue information
Entries, QTs, etc: via British Swimming website [Link]
(allow a week to complete the event registration process)
Swim England Summer ‘Nationals’ – Early August
Ponds Forge, Sheffield – scroll down for venue information
Entries, QTs, etc: via Swim England website (details to follow)
(allow a week to complete the event registration process)
Venues and ‘Stay-over’ information
Galas at Ponds Forge, Sheffield
Parking:The venue has a medium sized multi-storey car park, it fill up fairly quickly – keep your ticket for a £2 refund in the cafeteria.
Food: The venue has a quite good cafeteria
Recommended hotels (book early):
Many of our swim families stay at the Premier Inn Angel Street (the staff understand the swimming community!). There is a Co-Op within walking distance
Novotel Sheffield (family rooms have double and sofa-bed only)
Holiday Inn Sheffield
Alternatively if you are in Sheffield for a week (or more) we recommend booking a cottage out of town or an air B&B and drive in each day, the pool is close to the edge of town, and parking on-site is usually achievable.
Galas at Wycombe Leisure Centre
Parking: Park in the ‘Park and Ride’ this is usually free all day (check, in case this changes).
Supplies:
There is a big Waitrose next door to the pool – pick up supplies in the morning as the snack and salads can all be gone by lunchtime. Also has a sushi bar and they will make individual orders! Ice lollies are a nice treat for swimmers when it gets hot in the afternoon!
Food: The venue has a small coffee stall that also serves limited sarnies / cakes.
Recommended hotels (book early):
Many of our swim families stay at the Premier Inn High Wycombe which is a short drive away, its town centre location is handy for restaurants (incl Zizzi with good pasta dishes for swimmers).
The Holiday Inn High Wycombe M40 Jn4 is within walking distance of the pool, but is more expensive, there is a Frankie and Benny’s and a TGI Fridays within walking distance of the hotel and a Harvester nearby.
Some people stay at the Travel Lodge High Wycombe (but their pull-out beds are no where near as comfy as the Prem Inn or Hol Inn beds!)
Galas at Surrey Sports Park, Guildford
Note: Very limited spectator seating at this venue (pack a deckchair!)
Parking: The venue has a large car park which fills up very quickly
Food: The venue has a large Starbucks upstairs – but the queue is massive on event days – better to go into their ‘Sports bar’ just a bit further round the corridor.
Recommended hotels (book early):
Holiday Inn Guildford (within walking distance has pool & gym expensive!)
Premier Inn Guildford Nth (short drive to pool)
Galas at the London Aquatics Centre, London
Parking: The venue has a practically no parking – use the Westfield shopping centre parking or the (cheaper) international station car park this is a short walk away but is only £6 per 24 hours.
Food: Spectators are NOT allowed to bring any food into the venue (bags are checked) – Swimmers are allowed to take food in, so give all the packed lunches to your swimmers and then meet them down by the cafe to get it back! The venue has a small cafe – the service is AWFUL! They sometimes run coffee stands at the back of the spectator’s area but this is hit and miss.
Supplies: Westfield shopping centre is huge and is completely mobbed 24/7. It has a M&S and a Waitrose and many other food outlets including: Pizza Express, Nandos, Wagamama, etc. The fresh pasta bar ‘Pasta Rimoli‘ near the Waitrose is often a hit with Swimmers as they do takeaways (but it is quite expensive).
Recommended hotels (book early):
These are all very expensive – better to drive up each day
Premier Inn, Holiday Inn, Travel Lodge
Galas at Mountbatten Pool, Portsmouth
Note: Very limited spectator seating at this venue (pack a deckchair!)
There’s NO WIFI or phone signal at this venue either!
Parking: The venue has a large car park which fills up very quickly
Recommended hotels (book early):
Many of our swim families stay at the Premier Inn North Harbour.
There is a big Tesco with fuel, a Beefeater, a Pizza Hut and KFC all within walking distance.
Galas at K2 Crawley
Parking: The venue has a large car park which fills up very quickly, the overflow car park is close by to walk to the pool – Officials are guaranteed parking at the venue.
Supplies: There is a handy M&S at Peas Pottage Services which is just a couple of minutes drive from the pool (or a fairly long walk).
Food: The venue has a large cafeteria with hot ‘pot’ meals, jacket potatoes, chips, cakes and sarnies – but the queue is absolutely massive on event days.
Tilgate Park – This park is adjacent to the pool and is a nice place to take swimmers for a walk in the fresh air between sessions. There is a large Smith & Western restaurant in the park for a quick dinner after racing.
Crawley Leisure Park – This is a short drive away it has a Nandos, Harvester, Bella Pasta, Pizza Hut and TGI Fridays as well as a large Cinema.
Recommended hotels (book early):
Many of our swim families stay at the Holiday Inn Express Crawley
A little bit further out is the Premier Inn Manor Royal (Gatwick) – this hotel always does the earliest breakfasts around – which is very useful for Sunday galas! There is an M&S foodhall and Tesco Express nearby.
A posher hotel is the Crowne Plaza Gatwick – make sure you ask for the Crawley Swimming Club ‘K2’ deal when booking as this often includes free breakfasts (which are otherwise rather expensive).
Some people stay at the Travel Lodge Crawley (but their pull-out beds are no where near as comfy as the Prem Inn or Hol Inn beds!)
Galas at Tolcross, Glasgow
Parking: The venue has a good sized car park, but it fills up quickly due to reservations for gym members, on-street parking can often be found nearby.
Food: The venue has a cafe – no further info available
Supplies: Hope to have more info soon
Recommended hotels (book early):
Many people stay in the City centre and get the bus to the venue.
Swim parents have recommended the Holiday Inn Express in the City centre
There a few AirBnB‘s nearby but the area around the pool can be a bit ‘dodgy’
The Prem Inn Cambuslang is within walking distance, it is near the M74 motorway.
For those on a budget, there is a Travelodge at Cumbernauld 10 mins up the M80 with a good pub and an Italian restaurant next door.
Thanet Swim Club 