David Lloyd memberships - worth it?

[ChiefWiggumsBoy]

Has anyone got one? I know they can be pricey, but of course the website you have to 'enquire' and I really don't want someone calling trying the hard sell, I'm just idly thinking of it as I'll have finished paying off my student loan soon and would like something for the whole family. Boys are young teens and the two adults of the family can definitely do with the fitness!

So - if you have a membership, what level, how much do you pay, how much do you use it?

This has happened at my Nuffield gym - I joined purely for the outdoor pool and pay about £20 a month more than the other 2 nearest branches that only have an indoor pool. The indoor pool is way too hot for serious swimming and always full of lessons, aqua classes etc, too busy in the 2 lanes left. I'm leaving and going to a gym without a pool for £35 a month less and will 'pay as you go' to swim elsewhere. I already pay for open water swimming but was hoping the outdoor would be a nice halfway house over the winter.

This is really helpful, thanks.

I'm starting to think the membership level I want will be too expensive for 5 of us, but there's no real point if we don't have complete flexibility. Hmm. Going to have to fill in the form aren't I!

Our DL pool has always shut over the winter - Halloween till easter, more or less.

Not worth it no, unless you're going at least 5 times a week (in my opinion).
They also make it nearly impossible to cancel your membership.
They sold it to me with the creche, spa and classes. The creche only had 2 slots in the morning available, which never worked for me, the classes were always full and the spa was full of people jumping the barrier to get in or people on spa evening passes. To be fair, the spa in the day time during the week was lovely, but come evening it was just not kept clean and was vile.

I’m a bit peed off because I pay for Diamond membership, which includes the spa, but I can’t take my monthly guest (not a euphemism) into the spa and can’t even pay to upgrade the guest pass. I’m sure that wasn’t the case when I first joined a few months ago.

I have a basic membership of 115. I go 5 to 6 days a week. Often two classes a day. Well worth it for me. My DH was only using once a week but now he is WFH and using a few times a week so now worth it for him.

if you use it, it is worth it.

That used to be the case but not anymore. The cost cutting is unbelievable. So I’ve been there today, changing rooms and showers are filthy these days. Can’t think when I last saw a cleaner in there in the evening.

half of the showers have had the shelves broken off the walls and not replaced, so have to put any bottles and your wash bag on the wet floor. Both watt bikes have had the bottle holders snapped off months ago and not replaced…….you can’t sit riding an exercise bike without water. Wattbikes cost 2k and are rendered useless by not paying probably £20 to fix this. Only 3x weight benches in the gym, all three are ripped and have been for over a year.

no gym staff on the floor so nobody to ask for advice or how to use something. Because the gym isn’t policed anymore at weekends parents bring kids in who should not be in the gym. I’m talking 8yos arsing around on equipment.

anyway, rumour tonight is that it’s just been sold. So I imagine will get worse not better.

Oh dear, that’s a pity. That sounds like a similar low standard of my current gym, which I tolerate because it costs 1/5th of the price of a DL membership!

Ok so I can either pay for Platinum + 3 kids which is £138, no addition for partner so DH would need his own for £69. Total £207 pcm.

OR

Platinum + 3 kids and partner which is £357 pcm. The only additional benefits for Platinum is I can use any club and enjoy the spa. My local one doesn’t have a spa, so I’m not sure it’s worth the extra £150 unless I really desperately want to use one elsewhere!

Anyone have specific experience in the Knowsley one? Or Speke. Knowsley is closer though.

Theres an unofficial DL members fb group which has people from all over the uk. Might be worth checking out for any specific club questions

It’s probably not worth paying for the spa if the one you use doesn’t have one

I used to have platinum membership at my local DL; I loved the spa but it was so expensive and I didn’t go often enough to justify it

In contrast with @QuebecBagnet‘s experience, my DL branch is spotless, and there are always staff in the gym. It must vary a lot from branch to branch. (I’m v envious of those paying under £100 a month,
though - I pay £179 just for me.)

Mine is clean and tidy as well - I wouldn't pay that much otherwise! But mine is under £100 for one person - bargain compared to some on here!

I almost joined but went with my friend a few times on her guest pass and then found a smaller adult only gym with an indoor pool, sauna/steam room and jacuzzi for £40pcm. The DLs near me are so busy and I wanted to swim and not be splashed by other people's dc. I love my gym and that it isn't filled with little dc.

David Lloyd is now offering 3 month memberships, great if you want to sample it?

I go to Speke. Happy with it and when I see the prices other people are paying on here, it's cheap!

we used ours a lot when it was cheaper and kids went to the kids club passes - it was amazing over lockdown summer, we were there every day 😂

they’re putting the price up massively this jan and my kids don’t enjoy the kids club so much anymore.. we paid £286 for 2 adults and 3 kids now it’s gone up to £319pm 🙈 Inc £1pm for my baby - they’ve never charged for under 2s before..

this is a cheaper membership than others more recently on offer and it doesn’t even include racquets or towels

The newly refurbished spa is absolutely amazing though and pre third dc I did use it loads, was worth every penny. It just depends on how much time you have to make the most of it..you can pause your membership if you have a busy period but it’s a 25% fee

It is always worth ringing as I just got platinum for £44 monthly instead of £89 and half price joining fee as a 'December deal'

Although that wasn't at one of the ones the ones you are looking at

@JillyBoel22 which branch please?

We joined last year. I have given notice to leave - too many closures And they bumped the price up DURING the year

Yes they can now put fees up at any point and as many times as they want during your year and you still can’t leave as it’s in the terms and conditions you sign.