Pools Plus hit the woodwork!

A family-run business of 39 years standing, Berkshire-based Pools Plus know a thing or two about wet leisure, from design and specification to installation and maintenance. Endorsing the belief that there is nothing more inspiring and enticing than seeing water leisure in action, huge numbers of visitors flock to the vibrant Pools Plus display centre at Dobbies Garden Centre near Twyford, where the Certikin wooden pool has attracted a fan base all of its own.

Serving Berkshire and the surrounding counties for almost four decades it is the word of mouth recommendations that Pools Plus’s owners, Tony and Christine Canueto, are most proud of and which form the backbone of this very successful swimming pool and landscaping business.

As the latest addition to the display centre at Dobbies Garden Centre in Hare Hatch, the Certikin wooden pool is in good company, sitting alongside two inground pools and nine hot tubs, surrounded by beautifully landscaped gardens and a feature pond complete with 20 tonne rockery and waterfalls.

A planned springtime unveiling of the pool was postponed, due to lockdown, until the end of May but, despite the delay, the demonstration 6m by 4.2m wooden pool earned its living, garnering much interest over the busy summer months and procuring many sales.

A key member of the business, Tony and Christine’s daughter, Francesca Canueto says: “The Certikin wooden pool is an important part of our customer offering. It particularly appeals to the 35 to 45-year age bracket – young families looking to introduce their children to swimming and, at the same time, provide a focus for family entertainment and fun. The wooden pool allows them to do just that without blowing the budget. It provides a fabulous entry to swimming pool ownership. Our demo pool was well-timed as it captured the imagination of those families looking to holiday at home and invest in their gardens during lockdown and beyond.

“Our installation team find its preparation easy and construction straight-forward, taking just three to four days in total. Even those customers that opt for the DIY option say that the manual is simple to follow and trouble-free. We also offer a hybrid deal in which the customer or his tradesman installs and we offer support and advice.

“Aesthetically, the pool looks great and the wood blends naturally into the landscape. Other wooden pools are often much more labour intensive to install requiring deeper concrete bases and the inclusion of metal mesh and supports whereas the build quality of the Certikin pool requires minimal groundwork whilst still providing an immensely sound construction with a finish that is far superior to alternative brands. We treated the wood of the demo pool in early spring and it is still looking fresh eight months later. I’m a great believer that you get what you pay for! Given the beauty of the wooden pool, it almost seems a shame to sink one into the ground but, of course, you can choose to partially or fully install the pool in ground, such is the versatility of the Certikin wooden pool.”

Pools Plus LLP

w. www.poolsplusllp.com | t. 0118 940 4221

It’s time to unveil the British Pool & Hot Tub Awards 2021 winners

The crème de la crème of the UK’s most talented water leisure companies

The aspiration for pool and hot tub ownership saw a surge in demand last year, with home, lifestyle and health at the forefront of people’s minds. Other factors, such as travel restrictions and the great British weather which blessed the UK in 2020, ensured that many holiday budgets were re-purposed to create an everydaycation experience at home.

Leading the way for the water leisure industry the UK trade associations, BISHTA (British and Irish Spa and Hot Tub Association) and SPATA (Swimming Pool and Allied Trades Association) annually invite their members to enter the British Pool & Hot Tub Awards. The combined swimming pool, spa, hot tub and wellness industry awards attract entries from companies across Britain (and some from overseas), celebrating the best of construction, design, installation, retail, hire, service and innovation.

With 29 categories to be contested, this year’s winning and highly commended entries demonstrate the breadth of talent and commitment to quality and service in the industry, even when in the restrictions of a pandemic.

BISHTA and SPATA were delighted to welcome online their special guest of honour Danielle Brown MBE to present their top industry awards this year. Danielle, a Paralympic, Commonwealth and World Champion, started archery on her fifteenth birthday after her disability stopped her from taking part in the sports she loved. Danielle won Gold at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games and retained her title in London four years later. She became the first disabled athlete to represent England (and win Gold) at the Commonwealth Games in the able-bodied team, and she has won five World Championship titles.

Companies presented by Danielle were: Whitewaters named as the pool company who installed the Outstanding Pool of the Year. The SPATA judges cited this pool installation for “technicality, aesthetics and standards”, as the reasons behind their decision. Whitewaters. were also the winner of the Dick Millward Trophy for Pool Contractor of the Year.

Centurion Leisure was named as the winner of the much-celebrated Peter Geekie Award for Retail Excellence.

Outdoor Living (Leeds) won Gold as the hot tub company with the best showroom, providing consumers with everything they need to choose their new hot tub, accessories and products in a relaxed and inspiring environment. The BISHTA judges also awarded Gold to Hot Tub Suppliers for the Hot Tubs Change Lives category, and they also won Gold and Bronze awards in the Hot Tub Happiness category.

Judged by a group of industry experts, these awards not only reward companies for their superior work, celebrating both the technical and aesthetic aspects, but they also create an inspirational gallery of award-winning projects for consumers to view, in the knowledge that as trade association members, every company is expected to work to British and European standards.

All of the trade association members are also expected to abide with the BISHTA and / or SPATA Code of Ethics, with quality and service being their key attributes, providing consumers with a safe route to purchase.

Chris Hayes (Managing Director of BISHTA and SPATA) commented: “The British Pool & Hot Tubs Awards provides an exceptional stage to celebrate the calibre of talent we have in our industry.  I want to congratulate every award winner for their achievements and their continued commitment to providing end-users with high standards of quality and service”.

The 2021 winner’s galleries for BISHTA and SPATA are online to view now!

If you would like to find out more about BISHTA and SPATA and to find your nearest trade association member company, please visit: www.bishta.co.uk / www.spata.co.uk