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Original poster

Is David Lloyd worth it?

37 replies

AmateurHour · 04/09/2020 11:06

I’m soon to be moving house and have (stupidly) been looking into the local David Lloyd. It looks amazing but at £165 per month, seems ridiculous! It’s just for me but I’d want the spa so that’s the only package that’d work for me. Is anyone a member? Do you feel it’s worth it?

OP posts:

Bagelsandbrie · 04/09/2020 11:15

Absolutely not worth it. You’d be better to join a normal gym and then pay a local spa for a day pass when you occasionally want to use it.

EBearhug · 04/09/2020 11:24

It was when I lived/worked close to one with an outdoor pool, because I am prepared to pay for outdoor heated swimming. It didn't cost anything like as much as that, though, even taking into account it must have been 15 years ago now.

It would have to be very special for me to spend £165 a month, and I doubt I could justify it, because I work full time and just don't think I would be able to spend as much time there as I would feel I would have to, to get my money's worth.

It depends what is included in the package and whether you would use it. If it included a weekly full body massage, it's quite a bargain. If all it is is entrance, and you have to pay more (albeit discounted), then definitely not. I know what my minimum monthly use needs to be for my current use (not at David Lloyd), so you need to work that out for your own likely use and the costs.

Original poster

AmateurHour · 04/09/2020 11:52

I’m going to go for a visit and to be able to pin down exactly what is included for the price. It is an awful lot of money, I work 4 full days a week so would have an extra day to use it but I’m away for a few weekends throughout the summer especially. I’m mid 30s and exceptionally single- I had wondered if it might be another way of ‘meeting new people’ too...

OP posts:

PegasusReturns · 04/09/2020 11:55

I found it good when my DC were little (under 8).

We could go straight from school to swimming/tennis etc and then shower, have something to eat and then home to bed.

I could put them in crèche/ club at the weekend and do a class then we could all swim and have a coffee.

As they got older less of the classes were available to them but their fees went up even though as teens they're unable to use pool/gym unaccompanied so we knocked it on the head.

Pipandmum · 04/09/2020 11:56

It was when the kids were young. My husband went every day before work, I went after dropping kids at school and the kids went swimming at the weekends with friends then supper in the cafe afterwards while me and other mum enjoyed a glass of wine and catch up. If you aren't going to use it a lot there's cheaper alternatives.

PegasusReturns · 04/09/2020 11:57

Sorry crossed posts. If you’re single without children I’d avoid.

Pick a nice hotel with a health club that doesn’t allow under 16s

ComtesseDeSpair · 04/09/2020 12:05

I wouldn’t choose a David Lloyd membership as I’ve never found their facilities all that great (and too many kids!) but I have a £250 membership with another adults only gym which offers a similar range of packages and for me, it’s really good value. I use the gym most mornings, take a class two or three times a week, use the pool and sauna at least once a week and get two PT sessions a month included. I get my money’s worth on actual fitness and the facilities and atmosphere are much nicer than using a budget gym and the council leisure centre.

I wouldn’t put too much stock in meeting a partner through your gym, though. From experience, most people - particularly men - are there to train rather than date. I’m sure it happens sometimes, but whilst I know regulars to smile at or have a brief chat with, I’ve never got the impression anyone is interested in anything else.

nosswith · 04/09/2020 12:07

A lot more expensive that when I was a member before moving house about 10 years ago. I may have forgotten exactly but £55 comes to mind.

HunterHearstHelmsley · 04/09/2020 12:10

It's not at the moment. I pay £65 a month for my DL. The facilities aren't up and running properly. Personally, I'd join a month by month one and make a decision later.

Classes in particular are poor atm.

merrymouse · 04/09/2020 12:12

I think the only way you would meet somebody is if you got involved in playing tennis - but then you might be better just joining a local tennis club.

Like Bearhug I used to work near a David Lloyd with an outdoor pool and I swam pretty much every day, so it was worth it for me. However, whether it is worth it for you will depend on how much you use it and what your local alternatives are.

merrymouse · 04/09/2020 12:13

By the way I was a member on and off for about 5 years and never met anyone who I didn't know already.

chocolatesaltyballs22 · 04/09/2020 12:14

I've been a member for a long time, since before they started charging extra for spa. I also pay for a year up front so it ends up being admit £90 a month for me.

I absolutely love it and it's my second home. I'm in there 5 times a week most weeks so on a cost per use basis it's worth it for me.

If you think you'll use it a lot then go for it. The instructors in the classes are second to none. Worth paying for an annual membership if you can afford it, as you get a discount.

They've also been amazing during covid. Suspended fees, no questions asked.

JoJoSM2 · 04/09/2020 12:14

I’ve got the top whack membership at DL as I also like the spa + there are plenty of indoor tennis courts so you can play whenever. No kids in the spa here and there are separate adult and family swimming pools.

You could always try a rolling or trial membership to see if you use it. I have to say that I don’t go to the spa as often as I thought I would as you do need plenty of time to relax and then get changed etc.

unicornpower · 04/09/2020 12:19

I used to work for David Lloyd and they are a vile company to work for. Couldn't give two hoots about their staff (at mine at least!)

I definitely think you can get better value elsewhere, DL facilities aren't top of the range, they are virtually the same as any other gym and depending on what you're after the range of classes is much better at the likes of Fitness First. When you say spa, is that inclusive of treatments? Because the one i worked at marketed a 'spa' and it was a Jacuzzi and sauna. You'd be much better off joining an actual spa place and use their gym if that's you main reason for wanting to go :)

Zarara · 04/09/2020 12:26

I have just joined a private gym not DL but pay £98 a month. I’ve joined on a month by month basis as I wasn’t sure how much I would use it. So far it’s been worth it for me, I also think being at home so much generally because of Covid has allowed me to use it more as I can use it in the day more easily at lunch time etc. Maybe try a month or two on a rolling contact before you sign up for the year.

BurningTheToast · 04/09/2020 12:28

I used to be a member of a David Lloyd and wasn't impressed. The showers were never that clean and the lounge area was shabby. More importantly, the trainers/coaches never seemed to know that much and were never there very long. Classes were hard to book and again, teachers weren't that well-qualified - Pilates being taught by aerobic teachers who'd done a weekend course. And it was all horribly cliquey.

For that money, you could see a PT once a week. I see one and it's far better. Plus I hated the gym so rarely went but I never miss my twice weekly sessions with my trainer as the sense of obligation forces me to turn up.

HunterHearstHelmsley · 04/09/2020 12:31

I've been a member for years, I've already been eight times this week. Even then it's not worth it at the moment.

GU24Mum · 04/09/2020 12:31

I thought it was expensive when it was £75/80 a month!!

What sort of package have they quoted you for? If it's the one where you can go to other clubs, you probably don't need that.

I was a member at our local DL on and off for a few years but in the end only liked some of the spinning classes. Not a problem for you but it's really expensive to take school-age children which was one of the things which put me off.

I felt that it was expensive what it offered - I ended up trying something more basic but much cheaper and (only slightly) more expensive but much nicer.

Chesneyhawkes1 · 04/09/2020 13:33

Mine was £90 a month and I loved it there. No gym I've joined since has ever been as good.

So now I have gone proper low rent and have my own garage gym and a layzspa 😂

nancybotwinbloom · 04/09/2020 13:39

It is for us as our family membership with towels is less than your quote.

That's three of us.

Original poster

AmateurHour · 04/09/2020 14:03

Hmmm mixed opinions! Not really what you want when it’s that pricey! I’d be interested in a trial or something but I’m not sure they offer that, they’ve certainly not mentioned it!

OP posts:

KenAdams · 04/09/2020 14:08

We used to pay £250 a month and cancelled. We didn't use it much but we had a very hectic lifestyle at the time. The class times didn't work well for us and the facilities were really run down, mould, missing tiles, other peoples shower water coming up through your shower drain etc. Not for me.

KenAdams · 04/09/2020 14:08

Just to add, I've got the Peloton app instead now and I much prefer it as it fits in with my schedule better.

MinesAPintOfTea · 04/09/2020 14:15

A flex membership here is 90/month. I have joined for the outdoor swimming though, with no sign of the council pool opening any time soon that is worth it.

Many hotels offer spa days with a treatment and drink such that you could go every week without commitment and still be better off

cookiesaurus · 04/09/2020 14:19

I joined when I was working part-time and before I had a baby. I would go before work and then spend ages there on my days off doing spin/Pilates and then a good hour in the spa. I don't know if I'm lucky with the gyms near where I live, but they have nice spa areas (one in particular) which I didn't mind paying for.
Depending on where you are in the country an actual spa membership won't be that cheap. I rejoined on a 3 month basis once I could leave my daughter in the crèche but I just found it to be too much hassle as the classes clashed with her neap time (at the time). I will probably rejoin once my children are old enough to get more out of it though.

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