How do David Lloyd manage rising heating costs for pools and saunas? What businesses are seriously struggling due to fuel costs right now?

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Just got back from my local DL. Their fuel costs must be insane. Two very large swimming pools to heat and three smaller ones but kept at a much higher temperature. The outdoor pool regularly has steam coming off it. The costs of the saunas and steam room must be absolutely huge too.

Obviously there are people with actual problems around the world but what does everyone think? I wonder if they will be forced to shut temporarily. What other businesses might have to face a similar closure? Of course they could just ramp their prices up. I wonder how local leisure centres are doing too.

Do u have any sense of their profit margins over the years and what the business is worth? Just saying.
I really don't think you need to worry about David Lloyd.

Most businesses pre buy their energy at a certain price so the impact hasn’t been felt yet

Yes I see what you mean! But as a business, its costs must have gone up so much recently. They will have paid the high profits out to shareholders, won’t they? I wonder how much buffer they’ve got for unprecedented fuel shocks.

Erm I have no idea but I don’t want them reading this and putting our membership prices up any more thanks 😂
But it is an interesting question really, my energy bills have risen drastically, my membership price - not so much.

Disagree. Mains gas, yes. But heating oil in rural areas do not have this price protection.

Don’t be surprised if your pools get a couple of degrees colder and your fees go up.

I'm a member of DL and the pools are bloody cold so I reckon they just don't!

David Lloyd has invested tens of millions in energy efficiency measures, heat pumps and roof solar for their facilities in the last 24 months, which has reduced their energy bills. They’re quite forward thinking.

https://www.davidlloyd.co.uk/sustainability/

I gave up my membership recently as it had really gone down hill. The pools were much colder and whilst it was fine if I was swimming, it was freezing when in there playing with the kids. The spa area was only on about 50% of the time and they had changed the pumps in their showers to be more water efficient and you could barely wet you hair never mind rinse shampoo out.

I mean, the membership cost isn't cheap is it and mine is always very busy so I doubt they are short of the money.

PP is right - most businesses do have long-term energy contracts so won’t be being hit (yet).

Obviously David Lloyd isn’t heating their pools with oil!

@Elizabeta this was a response for other businesses, not just DL. How do you think they get their towels and food delivered? It’s all on fuel. Diesel has gone up by 31.5p a litre.

My local DL is actually partly on heating oil. The manager told me today. They are one of the few ones without much solar as the roof isn’t compatible (just wrong angle).

I actually read they have their running, rowing and bike machines hot wired into their electrics which makes sense when you think bout it. Apparently during the peak 6-8pm slot they make so much energy they sell it back to the companies and they make more money from it then membership fees

🤣🤣

It’s £300 a month for my local David Lloyd

I think they can manage it 😂

plus their business model relies on 60% of people not using their facilities, you know how hard it is to get out of one of their contracts

They dont increase salaries. So that helps.

My heart bleeds for David Lloyd… not

They will close facilities is it comes to it.

Nuffield Health ‘temporarily’ shut their jacuzzis during the energy crisis a few years ago, and they never reopened.

I’m a member at Bannatyne’s. They have reduced the pool temperature by a few degrees in order to keep the other facilities open. Suits me as it’s more comfortable for proper swimming.