Located in the heart of Manly and run by the Manly Council is the Andrew “Boy” Charlton Swimming Pool. The pool has been a part of the community for years and is somewhere I’ve been myself more than a few times with the family over the years.
Included at the Pool is a cafe run by Ahmed, a cheerful soul always willing to serve who goes above and beyond what a typical pool shop offers and is joyful in his work every day that I see him. He’s been working at his café kiosk for nearly 5 years and cites his love of the area, the community, and the locals he interacts with as a driving reason for being a part of this community – something the entire community is grateful for.
The café itself offers a range of wonderful foods, something that goes above and beyond what many other cafes and kiosks in swimming pools offer in the area. With fresh foods supplied to businesses and shops throughout the area, Ahmed is able to offer natural, fresh food himself that is the perfect fit for the fitness-oriented people who attend the swimming pool every day.
The Boy Charlton Pool is surrounded by the suburbs of Balgowlah, Queenscliff, and Manly Beach among others and serves many people throughout all of these communities, with especially good business from local children and their families. The pool is open every day from 6am to 8pm during the swim season and with nearby activities and facilities like the Botanic Gardens and Ahmed’s Poolside Café, there is something here for everyone, regardless of whether you’re feeling up for a swim.