Overview

Moss Side Leisure Centre is part of a complex that includes Hulme High Street Library. It's a community facility with more than meets the eye, featuring a gym, swimming pool, a pool pod for disabled swimmers, and a Changing Places toilet.

Transport & Parking

There are parking bays on the street, with pay-and-display parking just across the road from the entrance. Underground parking is also available, though it's a good idea to check the charges beforehand. Despite the busy area, no buses run along Hulme High Street. However, the 85, 85A, and 720 services stop on nearby Greenheys Lane West, about a three-minute walk away.

Access

The building has large automatic sliding doors at the entrance. As you enter, you'll find seats and power outlets on your left, which can be used to charge phones, tablets, and powered mobility devices. If you continue walking, you'll find the reception desk, which has a lowered section and accessible turnstile. To the right, you'll find a small single-person lift to the workout area—it's tight but can accommodate a single wheelchair user. On my visit, the down button of the lift was out of order. The staff were quick to advise me of this and asked that I signal from upstairs. The lift also requires that the rider hold down the button until they arrive at the top, though it can also be called from above. Passing through the hallway will take you to a set of double doors that open to the pool changing area, which has several large booths for those who need help to change. Due to the area being used for swimmers to change, the floor can be wet, but the tiles didn't appear to be slippery. The entire ground floor has level access. There is a Changing Places toilet at the back of the room, as well as an accessible toilet. The pool area has a helpful feature for disabled swimmers, a pool pod, which is a seat to help swimmers in and out of the pool. I didn't observe any alternative formats; the signage was minimal. I've scored highly here due to the staff being quick to highlight the lift issue and offer a practical solution, the Changing Places toilet, and the pool pod. Signage could be better, but I like to celebrate genuine attempts at inclusion.

Toilets

The Changing Places toilet is spacious, as one might expect. There's a large adjustable change bed, which is adjusted by the use of a lever rather than powered by electricity, and a ceiling track hoist. A shower is installed at the foot of the bed. The toilet seat and grab rails contrast with the rest of the room, and the emergency cord is on your left when seated. The toilet has space on either side for a wheelchair transfer. The sink is also adjustable and features a large basin with a lever-style tap. A colostomy shelf has also been installed. A poolside wheelchair was stored in this toilet, but it looked like it had seen plenty of use and was not obstructive, so I wouldn’t mark this down. The door opens outwards and does not require a RADAR key to unlock. There's a second accessible toilet in this area, which also features a shower, a toilet pan with a contrasting seat and grab rails, a shower seat, and a low sink with a lever-style tap and grab rails on either side. There were bins in the right-side transfer space and a plastic chair on the left side. The red emergency cord was not obstructed and is on the left when seated. The door opens outwards. If not for the second Changing Places toilet, I would have scored it a 3.5.

Staff

The staff were great, taking time out of their day to give me a guided tour when I explained the purpose of my review. I'd recommend this location to most people if they happen to be in the area of course!

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