David Lloyd - anyone else not impressed?

[RosieRed2]

My friend is trying to convince me to join - I’ve done a trial day and didn’t find the gym all that impressive if I’m honest given it’s over £100 a month! Are there any members on here who can convince me it’s worthwhile?

I agree wealthy people can be like that, and I too am a normal well behaved poor person 😆, but I know there is a belief that the majority of trouble causers and people being anti social are working class, chavs and lager louts etc, when really that is a small percentage of people who behave like that, they just stand out. But wealthy people pay to not be around working class all the time

Really because I joined David Lloyd for a bit and there was plenty of "riff raff" there. People behaving really badly, some really unpleasant men in particular. It definitely didn't feel remotely elite or refined

I've joined our local slightly shabby round the edges gym and it's a far more well behaved and pleasant bunch of people.

I always though riff raff basically meant not "rich posho's" nothing to do with honesty, education or principles etc.

I do think the whole point of the prices is to make it exclusive and naice and to keep power lifters and bodybuilders out. Then the facilities are added up to the point that they can just about justify the price

I guess it depends what you want out of a gym, for me I just want bog standard gym equipment and the odd class so I use the council leisure centre. I was briefly a DL member years ago when my children were young and it was useful in the babysitting service respect but I just couldnt justify the cost given I am no gym junkie.

I know where you are , I live there too😄

The gym's location is a low traffic area used pretty much exclusively for the Sainsburys there. I wonder how popular it will be tbh. I suppose the DFLs.from the next town along the coast might make use of it. I'd love to but not at those prices.

It is expensive but the changing rooms are just so clean and nice and the pool is brilliant. The local leisure centres are grim and I just can’t bear to use them. I don’t use the gym but use the pool and the classes.

This really made me laugh a lot. Thank you!

all of the DL advertising I see now is about being family friendly so I imagine that means they are dull of kids which totally puts me off. Nothing against kids of course but mine are grown now and I personally want an adult focused place to work out, not a glorified family fun park.

A long winded way of answering your question op: it depends what you want from a gym and what vibe you are after.

Have you not got a PureGym by you? Good grief I wouldn’t pay more than £50 for a gym and that is pushing me too far! PureGym upto £30 a month 24 hours a day

I pay £183 a month for myself, my partner and our four year old at the Dudley branch. We absouletely love it and find it fantastic value for money. My partner uses the gym 4 times a week on average, I use the classes about the same and will work there when I want to get out of the house (full time work from home) and our daughter does so many classes as we have found it to be a great confidence booster for her. We then all use the pool and clubhouse for a bite to eat and they also have the soft play area and children’s tablets. Compared to other gyms we have used we have found that people are much more respectful there as well, the social aspect is great.

Personally I could not fault it but it depends what you want from a gym

£100 and I’d sign up like a shot! My local ones are absolutely amazing- but it’s about £250 for an adult to join for a month

hmm

How very dare you hmm me

".... or low social standing". Which I am afraid, vicars excepted, means poor.

But I suppose it is more important what the others who actually used the term thought it meant

It’s not just a choice between DL and the local leisure centres though? Is there a Bannatynes near you? Not quite as swanky as David Lloyd but miles better than local leisure centres.

I always thought saunas were supposed to be a relaxing place. A bit like a library or something, where people just chilled and kept their voices low.

But I've stopped going in mine because it's always full of huge, loud men boasting to each other about what they've done in the gym.

If you go several times a week it might be. Our David Lloyd gym (I’m not a member but used to be), has a indoor and outdoor pool, restaurant, tennis courts and the usual gym stuff and a spa. They’ve just done a big refurbishment. If I swam daily and used the gym it might be worth it if you like really nice surroundings and the extras. There’s a council leisure centre close by that also has a pool for a lot less but has no bells and whistles.

DW agrees with you OP. Didn't bother to renew her first year's sub.

I didn’t realise hmm was such an inflammatory word lol, I literally had to put something in the comment box to be able to post the picture. I think the fact that it means disreputable and worthless is what annoys me by the term riff raff being used for poorer people.

We love our membership! We’ve moved a few times & seen varying degrees of facilities though. I feel we get loads of benefit with having kids as ours has stuff on for them/swimming/clean changing rooms. Crèche is amazing for me on mat leave. Saying that, I often think how much I’d of loved it pre children when I was more flexible and could use the spa and social events more!

My only 2 gripes are that it’s impossible to speak to to someone to alter memberships/complain. And the other is the reason I wanted to complain - because they’ve changed all the tiers without letting us know and I can no longer use the gym in my home town when I visit.

No there’s nothing else close by me other than DL or the local authority places. @KimberleyClark

Funny story. I was in my David Lloyd club a few years ago, in the sauna. Two guys in their mid 20s were in there. One was talking very loudly and inappropriately - nothing rude but just not what you usually get in a London DL clubs where most people are avoiding eye contact

Anyway, he had a tag on his ankle! I think the other guy had taken him in as a guest.

Complaints were made - i know this because staff came rushing in, though he had just left - though tbh he hadn't really done anything wrong.

Plenty of riff raff at my local branch, including many of the staff! I've witnessed bad behaviour, uncouth, aggressive and pretty rough customers, including longer term members and those related to staff, who get free membership. Also shoddy customer service and a lack of manners, unprofessional behaviour and bullying from front facing staff. Higher fees do not 'keep the riff raff out', I'd say that's a fairly naive and snobby view.

Some DL clubs near me are £200++ a month.
Out local The Gym has more machines than the local DL and much shorter queues. It’s only max £27.99pm and it’s 24 hour.
My DH was a DL member for over 10 years but wouldn’t go back there now.

Doesn't work, all the chavs who think it's a flex go there. Whereas my cheap lical council gyms are amazing value and full of decent normal people.

If you're just joining for gym and class and indoor pool, there's almost certainly equally good or better places.

I love the outdoor pool all year round, padel, pickleball and tennis. The clubroom is decent, I often work or study there when I need a break and the food and drink offering is good - it's a genuinely nice place to relax (probably because the kids soft play bit is set away from it!)

It's clean, staff are friendly, you get a towel which saves a faff (although relatively minor). The spa is good too - I'm lucky to be able to go off peak times and is actually really relaxing.

I'm probably there five days a week as a minimum, not always gymming but doing some of the above.

I wouldn't claim there's a 'better class' of people who go there, it seems pretty similar to other gyms I've been in - a fairly mixed bag.

So as a gym it isn't great value but for what I use it for, and the convenience of having it all in one place, it's great.