David Lloyd

[AprilMadness]

I don't want to spam Emma's David Lloyd thread so have continued on here.

I know it's Easter weekend so don't expect a reply anytime soon. But have sent the following email to [email protected].

As a long-term member of David Lloyd, I am writing to request clarification regarding your current policy on access to changing rooms and other single-sex facilities.

Your current policy states that members are permitted to use changing rooms aligned with their “gendered appearance,” thereby allowing biological men to access women’s changing rooms.

In light of the recent ruling by the United Kingdom Supreme Court, which confirmed that the protected characteristic of sex under the Equality Act refers to biological sex, I would like to understand how your policy aligns with this legal standard.

Please confirm your position on this matter, including how the policy is applied across your facilities and how compliance with current equality legislation is ensured.

I look forward to a timely response.

I'm really looking forward to their reply!

I wish there was a Ballantine's near me!

I'm a DL member too and would love to hear what they say. I too would like a Bannatynes but it's not likely to happen

Well, in my experience, emailing the central email address is pointless. They just t redirect you back to your own club. But do keep trying. Our local one had a trans member of staff who I always felt desperately sorry for - he seemed like a nice young lad who was clearly just confused and unhappy in a fairly slim/slight young man's body. But I had to avoid the bathroom when he was in there.

Well that's annoying. The customer service one bounced back and the members one is unmonitored.

You have to put [email protected]

Going to email a few around the country. Yeah I know it's probably a waste of time, but I finally feel my voice is being heard!

https://www.ceoemail.com/

[email protected]

CEO

Thanks for this will use for my local. 🤞👍

I definitely do not think it’s a waste of time! I saw Sex Matters have promised some templates for us to use. 🤞

Years ago Pure Gym told me to f**k off and suck it up (or use the disabled loos) if men who identify as women want to use the women's changing rooms - I cancelled my membership.

I also did this after having sent one a month ago - the address is often your club name AT davidlloyd.co.uk

I have not got a response yet either

Ooo didn't realise puregym had the same policy. I shall email them too!

I emailed Nuffield gym about this too (before the SC judgement), because there was a man (wearing women’s gym gear) in the women’s changing rooms at my local branch when I was taking my children swimming. They also directed me back to my own branch, who ignored my question. I emailed again directly asking the question “are your women’s changing rooms reserved for women on the basis of sex, or do you allow trans women to use them?” They just ignored my email. I will contact them again.

Subject: Request for Clarification on Changing Room Policy Following UK Supreme Court Judgement

Dear Nuffield Health,

I hope this message finds you well.

I’m writing as a long-standing member of your gyms and a parent, seeking clarification regarding your current changing room policy in light of the recent Supreme Court judgement in For Women Scotland Ltd v The Lord Advocate [2024] UKSC 42.

As you may be aware, the ruling reaffirmed that in UK law, the protected characteristic of “sex” under the Equality Act refers to biological sex — meaning that “woman” legally means biological female. This has important implications for the provision of single-sex services and spaces, such as changing rooms.

Having reviewed your Terms of Centre Use, I could not find a clear explanation of how you currently accommodate transgender individuals in changing facilities. I would like to understand how Nuffield Health plans to align its policy with the Supreme Court’s clarification, particularly regarding safeguarding, privacy, and dignity for female members, including children and young people.

Could you please confirm:

1. Whether you intend to revise your policy in response to the judgement?
2. If so, what those changes might involve and how they will be communicated to members?
3. How you plan to ensure that both biological women and transgender individuals are respected and provided for appropriately under your duty of care?

I appreciate this is a sensitive and complex area, but I believe clarity and open communication are vital. I look forward to your response.

Kind regards,
CocklesandMussels

@TangenitalContrivance thank you, that is a top letter.

I am a member of Pure gym and they always have notices about men /women bio sex. I presume seeing as they can be unmanned at times they were pretty strict. There are codes to get to changing rooms etc

I would remove the "hope this message finds you well" that's a standard AI response.

in my one the doors to the changing rooms are never locked, rendering the codes pointless!

Well out of the 6 DL's I emailed I only got one reply. Sounds promising though!

Thank you for reaching out.
Following the recent ruling, the company board will be reviewing policies this week and making changes as necessary. Any changes will be reflected in the companies policy soon.

On searching online for any updates I've just noticed that they don't even know the protected characteristics!

setacademy.davidlloyd.co.uk/catalog?pagename=equality-and-diversity-policy

Since when did social status replace pregnancy/maternity? Thats one major cock up!

my gym/swimming pool has a ‘changing village’. I hate it but can’t really change. It’s a small town, the only swimming pool in town, and I don’t drive.

This was my email to my local club last week:

xxxx
Thank you for your previous response.

Following the publication of the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s (EHRC) interim update regarding the recent UK Supreme Court judgment on the definition of “sex” under the Equality Act 2010, I am writing to seek urgent confirmation regarding David Lloyd Clubs’ compliance.

The legal position is now absolutely clear:
• “Sex” means biological sex, not self-identified gender.
• Single-sex services, including changing rooms, must be operated on the basis of biological sex.
• There is no discretion or flexibility to include individuals of the opposite biological sex in spaces reserved for women or men.

Maintaining the integrity of single-sex provision is a legal requirement under the Equality Act, as clarified by the Supreme Court and the EHRC. Allowing access based on self-identified gender rather than biological sex would breach the Act, exposing the Club to legal action, significant financial penalties, and reputational damage.

Accordingly, the female changing rooms at David Lloyd Brighton — and nationally — must now be restricted solely to biological females.

Given the seriousness and urgency of this matter, I require confirmation that the club's policies will be brought fully into compliance with the law and the EHRC’s guidance, and that single-sex facilities will remain single-sex without exception.

Please respond by return confirming the club's position.

Kind regards,
xxxxx

And I followed up today as it has been 6 days:

Dear xxx,

It has now been six days — a full working week — since I wrote requesting urgent confirmation that David Lloyd Clubs are complying with the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s interim guidance following the UK Supreme Court’s ruling on the definition of “sex” under the Equality Act 2010.

As of today, I have received no response.

Let me be absolutely clear: single-sex services, including changing rooms, must be provided on the basis of biological sex, not self-identified gender. This is not a matter of interpretation or internal discretion — it is the confirmed legal position under the Equality Act, as clarified by the UK Supreme Court and by the EHRC.

David Lloyd Clubs are, at present, not in compliance with this legal requirement.

This is a very serious issue. Your failure to respond — and the continued operation of changing spaces in breach of the law — creates substantial legal and reputational risk. It disregards the privacy, dignity, and safety of members, particularly women and girls, and exposes the organisation to formal complaint, legal challenge, and wider public scrutiny.

I am now asking once more for confirmation that:

• Female changing spaces are, with immediate effect, restricted to biological females; and
• Your policy has been updated to reflect the EHRC’s guidance and the binding Supreme Court judgment.

Please treat this as a matter of the highest priority. I expect your written response by close of business Tuesday.

Sincerely,
xxxx

@TangenitalContrivance
And when you haven't heard from them by Tuesday, you could ask them whether they have informed their insurers that, notwithstanding the Supreme Court's confirmation of the law, they are continuing to allow biological males into the female changing rooms (that's assuming the rooms are marked as female/women's).

Yes changing rooms are marked male and female.

funnily enough that is the line I used on my kids school - it;s a very good one. and I think puts the wind up them far far more than anything else

They don't care about women. But they'll care about money. And if a women suffers any detriment now in the single-sex changing room as a result of their policy ignoring the Supreme Court...

(It is SO NICE to be able to type that. The Supreme Court!)

I think you'll find that insurance is why the sports bodies folded.

And it should be ‘sex’ and not ‘gender’.