Next swim event in uk?

[andrewk]

does anyone know when the next public nude swim is in the midlands area? the only one i know of is stoke water world and that's next march.

[Noodie]

Hi Andrew,

By "public", I assume you mean ones that you don't have to be a member of BN or a club in order to attend?

You'll find that the majority are only open to members of BN. In the Midlands, the ones that I am aware of are (in no particular order):

A weekly swim at Northfield Baths, Birmingham, from 18:30 - 20:30 each Saturday
A weekly swim at Bramcote Leisure Centre (Nottingham way), also from 18:30 - 20:30 each Saturday
A weekly swim at Erdington Leisure Centre, Birmingham, from 20:30 - 22:00 each Thursday

For ones that are more open, your closest ones are probably going to be those put on by Club Soleil. They hold swims in Whittlesey and Bedford (I have been to the Bedford one - quite a nice facility!)

You can go to Soleil's swims three times before you have to join... you do need to show them some form of ID if you're not a BN member though (driving licence or the like will do fine). Next swim at Bedford is this Saturday (10 November) from 19:00 - 22:00. I think it costs £6.50 for non-members, but I can't quite remember.

All the details are here, if you're interested: http://soleil.org.uk/

[phil_2405]

A weekly swim at Bramcote Leisure Centre (Nottingham way), also from 18:30 - 20:30 each Saturday

Anyone been to this one?

[andrewk]

I got the impression when i first looked about going to nude swim that these smaller club based swims are for couple's and families only really so i guess not people on this forum would be able to go anyway.

and to answer your question no i haven't been but did look at it when i was first looking at going to naturist event.

[Noodie]

They aren't really for couples and families only. Some are a bit funny about that - but must aren't.

It's more the fact that most are only open to BN members - and if you plan to go regularly than you often have to become a member of the organising club. That is the bit that can be difficult, if you're a single man. Some do want to encourage in younger members though, so that can sometimes be in your favour.

Stoke Waterworld is not at all like that, obviously. It is open to pretty much anyone who wants to go.

There is also going to be a swim at Splashdown in Poole next year (12 July 2008) - which should be fantastic - and that will be open to both BN members and non-BN members (though non-members will have pay slightly more). As it's being organised by YBN in conjunction with BN South West, that one is deliberately being aimed at young people who are not BN members (and who probably won't even have tried naturism before). A lot of work is going to be put in to promoting it in colleges and Universities. There will also be big discounts for students and under 21's.

Obviously, the thing that the "public" ones have in common is that they are something of an event, rather than being something that happens often. It's expensive to hire out these places (even if it's just the local municipal pool, nevermind the waterparks with rides) and so it's only really organised naturist clubs that can afford to have a weekly or bi-weekly swim.

[andrewk]

there any cheap accommodation near to the splashdown swim? as i think it is to far to drive from Birmingham and back in one day.

As for the smaller swims i should of done my research im not sure where i got that they didn't like single male's going. Anyway don't think i would want to go by myself im not the most confident person i am the sort of person who waits outside the pub if im going out with friends so i don't have to go in on my own. That's why i was hoping to meet someone at uni who would come with me as i thought uni was supposed to the place find open minded people.

[Noodie]

there any cheap accommodation near to the splashdown swim? as i think it is to far to drive from Birmingham and back in one day.

There are lots of B&B's in the Bournemouth / Poole area, the two almost having merged into one very large seaside town now. Unfortunately, as it'll be the middle of summer season, they might be a little bit expensive. There are plenty of camping places in the area too though, if that takes your fancy (both naturist and textile)

As for the smaller swims i should of done my research im not sure where i got that they didn't like single male's going. Anyway don't think i would want to go by myself im not the most confident person i am the sort of person who waits outside the pub if im going out with friends so i don't have to go in on my own. That's why i was hoping to meet someone at uni who would come with me as i thought uni was supposed to the place find open minded people.

I can understand that. I think that is what puts people off going to some of the smaller swims - lack of people around their own age and/or lack of people to go with. There is also a perception (sometimes justified) that the club might not be too friendly.

I have to admit that I don't go to my local one... Apart from the facilities not being very good, the session is just far too short and I don't feel like I have much in common with most of the members there. I gather they're using a new pool now though, so I might give them another try.