David Lloyd reviews

[saz2022]

Hello
Just wondering about how good David Lloyd clubs are. Seem v expensive - any reviews would
be useful!
TIA

My friend is a member and loves it. She has taken out a yearly membership as it’s cheaper.

It is quite expensive but the facilities and members are generally nice! I've used local swimming pools and DL pools over the years - DL tend to be quieter and family and adult friendly. The gym is good, air conditioned. I would choose DL mainly for its cleanliness. I think you get what you pay for to be honest.

depends which one. my friends one is amazing, the one near me is not worth it at all.

I think you have to know yourself. If you're someone who will go 7 times a week and loves knowing everyone there, then it'll probably suit you. I honestly don't go anywhere near as much as I should, but I quite like it when I do go.

Issues are - annoying unsupervised kids in the restaurants, busy carpark especially in January, and having to book classes ages in advance at popular times. I like the steam room, free kids classes at the same time as adults classes, free Elemis shower gel in proper showers (i.e. you can actually get nekkid in them, rather than a horrible communal monstrosity) as well as towels included so I don't have to wash them, the Blaze classes, and the gym at ours is quite big. Outdoor pool is bliss.

Thanks all v interesting. Will maybe book a tour

If you are thinking of the Reading one, I really wouldn't bother. I have no idea how they can get away with charging as much as they do for it as the equipment and studios are very tired.

Unless it has an excellent pool/sauna, but can't say as I've never used them!

No Norwich one

Also be aware of their 'inclusivity' policy. Their changing rooms/loos are not single sex spaces (saw a thread on here about it)!

It totally depends on which one you’re local to. Ours is fine and I think tier 3. I get my moneys worth as I do 2-3 classes per day 5 days a week. Also use the pool a lot when it’s sunny. However you absolutely have to be there pre 9am if you want a sun bed on a sunny weekend day and by lunchtime ours is absolutely full of uncontrollable kids and their drunk parents. It gets a very “Brits abroad” feel to it which surprised me when I first joined due to the cost.
If I didn’t use it so much I’d probably feel like it’s a bit of a rip off. The classes and gym are good but it’s definitely got a bit of a grubby feel and I’ve been a member at much cheaper gyms that feel more luxurious. However they’ve got a bit of a monopoly where we are and I’d have to drive right into town if I wanted an alternative so for me it’s the convenience.

I wouldn't join DL until after the school holidays tbh. It's full of feral kids for six weeks.

noted thanks

To be fair the feral kids don’t get up very early I can usually have a peaceful swim before 9.30. The outdoor pool is also adults only before a certain time as it’s not lifeguarded. You sure as hell can’t swim in the afternoon though. Apparently the capacity for the outdoor pool is 70, in my mind it’s 4 maybe 6 at a push.

I love it. But then I live very close so it makes it v easy to go.

I wouldn't join. The pool and changing rooms are full of feral kids. They allow 8 year old boys in the women's, and they visibly stare at naked women.
I've mentioned this at the desk several times, they don't care. I also saw a man scream at a woman in the pool and the lifeguard said nothing. Very strange.
They have a lot of very young staff, like 17 year old lifeguards and cafe staff so they're a bit clueless.

I

I’ve been a member at David Lloyd for over 7 years now and been a regular member so has my partner. We never wanted to leave David Lloyd but unfortunately we’ve had to make cut backs since our mortgage increased but a substantial amount along with the fact that Im a new mother on maternity leave and went onto reduced pay which left us struggling to cover our bills. We went to the membership team explaining our situation and giving over substantial proof that these changes had come into effect which was leaving us struggling and asked if we could bring the cancellation process forward so we wouldn’t end up in money troubles when the mortgage increased and my pay was halved……..the membership team didn’t seem to care, everything we sent over to show these changes they threw it back asking for other documents. Considering this a gym and not a bank we were fascinated at how much personal documentation they wanted. They are saying they will only terminate early if your bills have doubled. Who is a gym to tell a young family what they can and can’t afford. It’s disgusting after being a long standing member these companies are meant to support members in these situations. So if you are looking to join an expensive gym make sure you are prepared for lack of support and a long cancellation period of 3 months! even after being a long standing member who’s always paid they don’t care when you need help! So many people I know who have needed to end their membership at David Lloyd due to financial changes or physical health changes (medical problems) has had problems and it’s always ended up with the same attitude from David Lloyd. They seem to think they are above everyone else and I never thought I’d say that after being there for just shy of a decade but they’ve really let us down.

I am utterly disappointed with the service received at the DL Aspley, Nottingham branch reception. The behavior of the staff, especially an older gentleman, was unprofessional and discourteous, significantly detracting from the expected standard of customer service. Such conduct is unacceptable and has deeply marred my perception of the establishment.

No problems here, been members for over 10 years now.
dh doesn’t really use it much but ds and I get quite a bit of use out of it. The outdoor pool at the one near me is only for adults as it’s through the spa so it’s never rowdy or overrun with feral kids.
The indoor pool (which kids can use) has quite a high age limit for kids being left to swim alone, initially I found it annoying but now I appreciate the rule because otherwise people would just drop their 10 year olds off for the day and leave them there, it could be mayhem!
It’s really clean, great variety of classes if you’re into that (I only do spin), gym is big with loads of machines.
No complaints from me, it suits our needs just fine.

They didn't really let you down though because they held you to their contractual terms that you signed up to. You just didn't get the outcome you desired.

I have been a member for over 20 years. It is an expensive luxury for us as we don't use it much now (used it more pre kids and when dc were primary age).
However compared with our local pool it is bliss. Empty pools, with lanes, clean spacious changing rooms, nice showers, quiet adult only club area.

From what I can gather it varies greatly up and down the country.

My one isn't too bad on the feral kids front - although you'd be hard pushed to swim properly in the outside pool between 11-4 in the summer holidays. Outside of this it's adults only and was open all year round.

There's a large adult only area in our clubroom and a nice outside area.

It's worth it for me for the two pools, steam room, and the racquets side of things. The gym itself is fine but if you're going predominantly to use the gym it's probably poor value - what makes it worth it for me is it is the only place with certain facilities (outdoor swimming and padel courts)

Plus if you can go during 9-5 you can usually get a sunbed when the weather allows! There's normally a couple of crazier days during the summer holidays but I haven't found it too bad.

Maintenance isn't as good as you'd expect for the price paid.

There's Facebook groups for members that aren't affiliated with the gym itself - David Lloyd Community is one I think...I would ask about your specific gym there.

I joined David Loyd as it’s 2 minutes from my house and I need that ease of access, otherwise I would make excuses not to go, so in that case it’s worth it.

however is it worth £100 a month? Hell no. I joined hoping to do the gym during the week (which is grand) and swim at the weekend…but I can’t swim at the weekend..or go at all at the weekend. It’s full of kids!! Can’t even swim in the pool writhing kids getting in the way.

also for the price I would expect tennis to be included which it’s not.

Another big one..no classes that suit me. I’m too unfit for blaze and the timings are terrible and at weekends are basically catered again to kids.

final review..for me for now until I get my fitness and addiction up its good as it’s close by but it’s essentially a family gym and as I don’t have kids is useless. I will be cancelling my contract once the year is up.

I’ve never seen any evidence of this at any David Lloyd, except within the family changing rooms where there are separate cubicles for changing

They don't advertise it but it is their policy (all part of being 'inclusive' and their guidance from UK Active). Ask them and see what answer you get. That's why someone was trying to sue them.

Expensive but the facilities are really good, classes are varied and regular and the instructors are good.

I was less impressed with the personal training.

I don’t use the pool or spa but I’ve been told they’re excellent.

I love it