Men at David Lloyd, moaning and whining because the spa is female only for 2 measly hours a week

Is there a male only time slot too? I can understand the annoyance if they are paying for the same facilities?

From the article

There likely isn't a men's only time because men haven't asked for one.

How very odd. Every gym I've ever attended had separate sauna areas off both the male and female changing areas. The logical setup really - avoids having to install separate shower areas just for the spa section.

How many gyms have you attended? Because for that to be common is what's very odd to me. I've never seen that in any of the gyms with saunas I've been to (thinking of at least 10) - there was one small additional sauna within the women's changing rooms at one once but no male equivalent, and they got rid of it after a refurb. All others have had one, mixed sex, sauna off the main pool.

I am a member of a David Lloyd gym and tbh I would be annoyed if there were times I couldn't use the spa.

I do aqua classes there and they rope off about two thirds of the pool, but there is always a lane you can swim in - they know they can't leave customers without pool access so I guess the same applies to the spa.

Ours is mixed sex. It consists of a jacuzzi, steam room and sauna.

I do think it can be intimidating as a woman, especially when there is a group of men together. I go during the day so it isn't a huge problem but I can imagine there is a different atmosphere in the evening.

Thing is, people go tovthe gym when it suits them. My hairdresser goes on his way home after work. He wouldnt want to wait an hour say til the facilities he's paying full price for are available. So I can see why the men are annoyed.

It’s not just about how they behave though is it, it quite clearly says one of the reasons for the change is to accommodate religious / cultural beliefs so don’t be fooled into thinking this is about women’s comfort. Considering DL’s stance on trans access to changing rooms until the law changed, I’d guess that cultural / religious beliefs are actually the main reason for the change rather than them suddenly giving a shiny shit about women’s safety. They’re also only implementing this policy in several branches rather than a nationwide rollout so it would be interesting to see the demographic of people in those areas as I think it will support my theory.

A big part of the complaint seems to be that men who are paying a premium for peak hours access are now being restricted during peak hours but with no reduction to their membership fee - that’s a valid complaint as far as I’m concerned. My partner and I pay DL £458 per month as a couple or £229 per person for peak time access but under this scheme, I’ll get exactly what we contracted for whereas he won’t but will still be paying the same amount.

It's only for two hours a week and I am just guessing it's going to be something like 9am to 11am on a Tuesday not Saturday morning.

You would think given how some men behave that all the decent men there would go 'fair enough' if it makes some women more comfortable.

But that wouldn't make a good story for the Daily Mail.

No it’s going to be 6-8pm on a Thursday so peak hours which they charge a bloody big premium for in membership fees, if it was off peak hours like you’re suggesting then it would less of an issue.

I didn't realise that @MysteryParcel .

I can see why men would be pissed off then. If the shoe was on the other foot I'd be fed up.

The thing is, women are also paying for peak hours but are unable to use the spa at all for cultural /religious reasons. Is DL willing to reduce their fees given this issue?

It’s not just cultural and religious reasons. There are Reddit posts that talk about female members who don’t feel comfortable using the spa facilities in the evening because of the way men behave.

Except they’re not though, it’s only the Platinum tier that gives you access to the spa; if women know they can’t use the spa for cultural / religious reasons then there’s no reason to sign up for that tier and they could go for Club Plus instead which still gives you peak access to everything else (except racquets and Blaze classes but you can pay as you go for them if there’s availability).

Either way though, what you’re saying doesn’t apply as those women knew it was a mixed sex environment when they signed up which is a completely different scenario to paying for full access, then being told actually you don’t get full access but you need to pay the full amount anyway as you’re under contract.

I went as somebody’s guest

It was amazing how full of men it was, actually we were the only women in there at one point and then another lady came in.

I can’t remember how the sauna or steam room operated because I didn’t use it

Used the Jacuzzi and a relaxation room, aromatherapy room or something. I came away from there thinking how nice it would be if there were women’s only spas. It’s probably not practical.

but…. Yes, if you have paid and you have then been told that you haven’t got access to facilities for a set time each week that’s pretty crap. I would complain as well.

Is it just this particular one? I would be pissed off if my gym suddenly told me I wouldn’t be allowed in there for a couple of hours a week for some reason, sure.

Agree! Especially if it wasn't made clear at the time of joining up. Blaming all men reminds me of how certain members of my family were treated in the noughties because they "looked" like they might be terrorists! Should they have just put up with it because some white people said it was the fault of people who looked like them?
It's not whinging to complain when you're not getting the facilities you paid for because of a characteristic you can't help, like your sex or race.
I would absolutely leave this gym, but I'm pro equality, and wouldn't go anywhere racist or sexist. Like most women, I have men I love that I might want to go to the gym with.
It's much more fun when everyone goes together, and men and women who socialise together like this tend to be more respectful of each other-I've only heard sexist comments from people who believe we shouldn't socialise together, never from any man or women who believes we're equal and don't need segregation.

If you're paying £250 a month and then told you can't use the spa facilities during peak hours - but with no discount for lack of services, and no equivalent time you can use it - that's outrageous. Equal treatment should mean equal treatment. That's the law after all.

If you're ever in Asia or America - try a Korean spa. Single sex and not for the faint of heart but really liberating experiences.

It’s only 2 hours a week! I’d love it the men at our David Lloyd can be quite leery in the spa area

At my DL everyone has equal access to the spa - Platinum level just means you get given a towel!

At my DL, you know that as an older woman you need to be out of the spa by 5pm most days - earlier on a Friday - because it becomes colonised by the bros and is no longer a relaxing place. Shouting, loud conversations and leering, and unacceptable comments about younger women passing them. The spa staff find them too intimidating to do anything about.

The full entire spa? That’s certainly not the case at my DL where there are restrictions by membership but I guess facilities vary across their sites.

if they are aiming to accommodate religious/cultural needs then they can simply provide an equivalent male only slot, I'm sure genuinely pious men would welcome that

I wish ours would do the same. I’m fucking sick of it being overrun by huffing and puffing sweaty hairy men

Same at mine

Yes I heard this from my friend who actually left the Trafford Centre David Lloyd because of this kind of behavior she said the men are all on their phones as well. So I guess they could be taking photos of the girls in their bikinis. But she certainly said she felt completely uncomfortable and didn't want to go in there. Which is a shame because it's a really nice Spa area.