'Budget' Gyms - Experiences?
Discussion
Hi all,
Possibly looking to join a 'budget' gym shortly (live near Bristol which has The Gym and PureGym) which charge between £10 and £15 per month.
Does anyone have experience of either (not specifically Bristol!)? - as a bit of background I have never even been to a proper gym before but have been going to a local bootcamp (HIIT/Tabata type circuits) 3 times a week since last August so I'm not in too bad shape.
Possibly looking to join a 'budget' gym shortly (live near Bristol which has The Gym and PureGym) which charge between £10 and £15 per month.
Does anyone have experience of either (not specifically Bristol!)? - as a bit of background I have never even been to a proper gym before but have been going to a local bootcamp (HIIT/Tabata type circuits) 3 times a week since last August so I'm not in too bad shape.
Pure Gym member about 18-24 months ago.
lots of cardio machines
did have free weight but always busy
very busy after work 6-8pm
open 24 hours which was good
no staff if you need them in evening
no fuss joining and leaving / no contract
music is OK
the one thing that really pissed me off was that they started doing loads of classes but didn't have any specific area to do it in so they would invade the main gym area and make a lot of noise. they changed the layout of the gym slightly to make a wall to separate them but it meant a large chunk used for stretching etc got taken away a lot of the time for classes
lots of cardio machines
did have free weight but always busy
very busy after work 6-8pm
open 24 hours which was good
no staff if you need them in evening
no fuss joining and leaving / no contract
music is OK
the one thing that really pissed me off was that they started doing loads of classes but didn't have any specific area to do it in so they would invade the main gym area and make a lot of noise. they changed the layout of the gym slightly to make a wall to separate them but it meant a large chunk used for stretching etc got taken away a lot of the time for classes
You should have a look at anytime fitness on the triangle, have a few mates who rate it although I think it's £30 a month. If you want to go to a school gym then to be fair clifton college have the best one.
Depending on what you want to do at the gym I personally would recommend David Lloyd long Ashton, as although its slightly more expensive than what you want to pay, all the classes which they run are included in your membership fees and so if your new to going to the gym they are really good and enjoyable. They also have a swimming pool which the majority of the other gyms don't, I think you also get the use of a personal trainer free for once a month.
Depending on what you want to do at the gym I personally would recommend David Lloyd long Ashton, as although its slightly more expensive than what you want to pay, all the classes which they run are included in your membership fees and so if your new to going to the gym they are really good and enjoyable. They also have a swimming pool which the majority of the other gyms don't, I think you also get the use of a personal trainer free for once a month.
I was a member of PureGym in Wandsworth for a while, £25PM and i thought it was great. Loved the 24hr access at any time of the year apart from Xmas.
Many Cardio machines, so never had to wait around, but there are no luxuries such as steam/sauna room/swimming pool etc.
LA Fitness were doing a deal a couple of months back which is over the road from where i work, and for an extra £10 per month i now have the pool and sauna. But if it wasn't for the deal they were doing at the time, i would still be using PureGym.
Many Cardio machines, so never had to wait around, but there are no luxuries such as steam/sauna room/swimming pool etc.
LA Fitness were doing a deal a couple of months back which is over the road from where i work, and for an extra £10 per month i now have the pool and sauna. But if it wasn't for the deal they were doing at the time, i would still be using PureGym.
I was a member of The Gym in Birmingham once upon a time. Because I signed up before they actually opened, my monthly cost was only £9.99 versus the standard £15.99, so an absolute bargain.
As others have said, they're very much no frills gyms where you can cancel your membership at any time. There was plenty of equipment but I did occasionally have to wait during peak periods. One thing that did get to me were large groups of young lads coming in together and crowding a particular machine or area, usually the free weights section.
Maintenance of the gym was poor. On a few occasions, 3 of the 6 showers in the gents changing rooms had gone out of order and it took 2 weeks for them to be sorted. Off peak, it wasn't a problem but between 5pm and 7pm on a weekday, it was a nightmare joining the queue to have a wash.
As others have said, they're very much no frills gyms where you can cancel your membership at any time. There was plenty of equipment but I did occasionally have to wait during peak periods. One thing that did get to me were large groups of young lads coming in together and crowding a particular machine or area, usually the free weights section.
Maintenance of the gym was poor. On a few occasions, 3 of the 6 showers in the gents changing rooms had gone out of order and it took 2 weeks for them to be sorted. Off peak, it wasn't a problem but between 5pm and 7pm on a weekday, it was a nightmare joining the queue to have a wash.
Edited by Cybertronian on Monday 3rd June 13:26
You say near Bristol so factor in the travel/location as part of where you want to go.
DL at Long Ashton can be a pain to get to but I used it for 6 years. It's quite a social hub at weekends - lots of families (noisy Tarquins). I used to go off peak and eventually couldn't afford it any more!
Clifton College is well equipped and also has a decent pool. Parking issues with the zoo being just around the corner and I'll bet the Red Trousered Loon wants it in the RPZ!
UWE - good well priced gym there and easy access form North Bristol.
DL at Long Ashton can be a pain to get to but I used it for 6 years. It's quite a social hub at weekends - lots of families (noisy Tarquins). I used to go off peak and eventually couldn't afford it any more!
Clifton College is well equipped and also has a decent pool. Parking issues with the zoo being just around the corner and I'll bet the Red Trousered Loon wants it in the RPZ!
UWE - good well priced gym there and easy access form North Bristol.
I used to be a member of Pure Gym in MK. It wasn't bad, remembering the pin was a pain but there was good kit and plenty of room. The shower and changing facilities were basic but were clean. I had come from Virgin Gyms, which are very nice but expensive so it was a bit of a come down.
The problem I found with it because it was new and the monthly fee was only £10.99 it attracted a lot of w
kers. I went in to the free weights room and there was some meathead knocking out bench presses and swiging from a can of special brew in between sets.
I left it in the end but that was more about being fed up with the gym in general than that one specifically.
The problem I found with it because it was new and the monthly fee was only £10.99 it attracted a lot of w
kers. I went in to the free weights room and there was some meathead knocking out bench presses and swiging from a can of special brew in between sets. I left it in the end but that was more about being fed up with the gym in general than that one specifically.
I've been a member of the gym in Glasgow for 18months. It is very handy for work and I can go over lunch. So in that respect it is worth more to me than my Virgin Active membership was as I actually go regularly. The bonus is, it costs significantly less!
The gym itself is no frills but has everything I need. It is often quite busy though and you can rarely get anywhere near the squat rack. I just modify my routine to suit what is available.
I agree with some of the comments of the maintenance taking a bit longer than you would hope.
The gym itself is no frills but has everything I need. It is often quite busy though and you can rarely get anywhere near the squat rack. I just modify my routine to suit what is available.
I agree with some of the comments of the maintenance taking a bit longer than you would hope.
I'm in a budget gym - £15 a month. They're all much of a muchness.
It's great for my (cardio) needs. I basically use it when the weather is bad so I can't (read, don't want to
) run outside.
If you're a weights-man, it does get busy from 5-8pm. There's a lot of swaggering, but I've found that in gyms costing 4 times as much.
Showers, etc are basic but sufficient.
It's great for my (cardio) needs. I basically use it when the weather is bad so I can't (read, don't want to
) run outside. If you're a weights-man, it does get busy from 5-8pm. There's a lot of swaggering, but I've found that in gyms costing 4 times as much.
Showers, etc are basic but sufficient.
mikebradford said:
council gyms can sometimes be ok
its a bit like any other, in that some are good some are bad
so like any place, check it out beforehand, and if your happy sign up
They can. Ours is probably one of the most expensive here though, or on a par with the usual suspects. But it is worth the money though as they just spent a lot upgrading the leisure complex, enlarging the gym and adding new equipment. its a bit like any other, in that some are good some are bad
so like any place, check it out beforehand, and if your happy sign up
Still doesnt beat the university gym though! Even for outsiders that is on a par per month and the place is positively vast with every piece of equipment you could ever hope for.
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