Out To Swim Bristol

Welcome to OTS, a friendly, open and inclusive masters swimming club for the LGBTQ+ community in Bristol, UK.  We welcome you if you want to swim for fitness or competition and make lasting friendships in our amazing city.

LGBTQia+ Masters Swimming in Bristol

The club is part of the Out To Swim aquatics family. Launched in Bristol in September 2018, supported by the University of Bristol.  Our sessions are designed to focus on fitness, and technique across all four strokes: front-crawl, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly and core skills such as diving and turns.

Coaching

We have a coaching team, who ensure we are a welcoming and inclusive club. Coaches will help you stay safe in the water, as well as helping you develop and challenge yourself. On pool-side our Level 2 coaches are supported by assistant Level 1 coaches and Level 2 teachers who volunteer their time to support our swimmers.

Venues and Times (updated September 2023)

Swimming sessions take place at two pools in Bristol the University of Bristol Swimming Pool and Jubilee Swimming Pool.

• SATURDAY 18:00-19:00 at University of Bristol (25m) - 6 lanes whole pool - coached session.

• SUNDAY 16:00-17:00 at University of Bristol (25m) - 3 lanes - coached session

• WEDNESDAY 18:00-19:00 at University of Bristol (25m) - 3 lanes - coached session. Focus on stroke technique and core skills. 

• THURSDAY 19:00-20:00 at University of Bristol (25m) - 4 Lanes - coached session.

• FRIDAY 19:30-20:30 at Jubilee Swimming Pool (22m) - 3 lanes - coached session. Focus on stroke technique and core skills.

The minimum standard required to join is to be able to swim 100m front crawl continuously. If you can't manage this yet we recommend the University of Bristol Swim School who offer Adult Swimming Lessons. 

Fees (from Sept 2023)

• Unlimited: £38 per month

• University of Bristol Staff: £32 per month

• UoB/UWE: £28 per month

• 1 swim a week (max. of 4 swims per month): £24 per month

Fees include pool entry fees, coaching and club membership.  There is also an annual fee to cover membership for Swim England (UK Amateur Swimming Association) and this is required for insurance purposes.

Social and Wellbeing

We go for post-swim refreshments and we have a variety of social events throughout the year.

We like the recommendations of the Mental Health Foundation to look after your mental health:

1. Talk about your feelings
2. Keep active
3. Eat well
4. Drink sensibly
5. Keep in touch
6. Ask for help
7. Take a break
8. Do something you’re good at
9. Accept who you are
10. Care for others

FAQ’s

How do I book my first swim?

• Register your interest here, there are a few forms to fill in and then you can have up to three taster swim sessions.

What happens on my first swim?

• We will arrange to meet you at the pool, walk you through the changing facilities and to pool-side where you will meet the coach.  They'll be on hand to help you interpret things like acronyms and lane etiquette.

• We have prepared a coaching glossary below to help you understand swimming terms.

What are the changing facilities like at the pools?

• The University and Jubilee pools offer only binary, gendered changing facilities we encourage swimmers to use the changing area that they feel most comfortable in, and this policy is supported by both pools.

• Both pools have open changing and private cubicles and there are accessible areas available.

• Lockers - University require own Padlock and Jubilee require £1 coin [refundable]

What do I wear?

• Options include trunks, jammers and costumes, but our swimmers are free to swim in swimwear they find comfortable. It is advised that baggy clothing will be much more tiring to swim in, and may hinder your movements, but it won’t stop you training with us.

Is everyone else really fit?

• We have a wide range of swimming experience and different body shapes.  You may feel nervous at your first session but we are here to support you.

If you have any further questions, do send us an email: bristol@outtoswim.org