Gym choice......

Woodywizz

I've been a member of a Virgin Active (The Lancashire, in Middleton, Manchester) for coming up to a year....and I love it. I like the whole vibe of the club, have a personal trainer who I get on with, but I do need to make more use of the classes available. I pay annually rather than monthly and last year it cost me circa £500 for the year....which given the amount of times I go (at least 3 times a week), I feel is good value.

My renewal is due in May, and recently a couple of mates have joined their local Village Hotel gym - there is one near me and it is marginally cheaper, but they throw in a free child place. So, if me and my Mrs join then we can get 2 of the kids free membership too. I'm a bit torn but feel I should at least go and have a look. So, was wondering whether any of you guys / girls had experience of both and what were the pros and cons.

Many thanks.

Wardy257

Do you have any of the budget gyms around?  Pure Gym, The Gym or Anytime Fitness?

Woodywizz

Yeah loads, but cost isn't really an issue. The budget gyms near me have no pool, jacuzzi or steam room / sauna....which I also enjoy.

Wardy257

In that case I dont know much about going to the gym for enjoyment so I will step away and let someone else help you

PSM1

I would go and see how the place feels to you. By the sounds of it The Village option could be better for the family as a whole so if you like the feel of it then go for it. To be honest most of these corporate style gyms offer the same stuff so depends if you get a good feeling about the staff etc.

Abbeygoo

You're a personal trainer, do you not go to the gym to enjoy yourself?

Abbeygoo

Hey Matt

I've had a year at Hatton's having previously been a member at the Village and as you know, I am going back. For me, the cheap and cheerful option hasn't worked as the place always seems to be packed - the etiquette around the gym regarding weights being left out, people just sat on machines on phones, changing room cleanliness etc ..... it just seems that the low monthly payment equals low standards. That's my experience anyway.

The Village is more expensive but I suppose its like Stella Artois in that respect. The additional facilities you mention are worth the additional outlay and I always made good use of the warm jacuzzi, cold bath, steam room, sauna etc when I was marathon training and came in from the cold.

The fact that you can use the various Village hotels around where we live is a nice little bonus too.

Woodywizz

Thanks Steve....I too am a bit perplexed about the comment about not enjoying the gym. I'm not one of those who goes to the gym and goes straight into the steam room and that's it. I enjoy having a good session be it on my own or with my PT...and after that I enjoy a nice swim or jacuzzi. So, as you say mate, I wouldn't even consider a more spit n sawdust approach.

Wardy257

Just teasing, no harm intended

reiteration

are you not able to get a free taster session - there's a village hotel near to where I work and I did ponder that for a while - but decided (best choice in the end imo) to go for a gym that's local to me (commute 40 miles each way)...

but I suspect the main issues are the facilities and how busy it is (unless it's huge then that shouldn't be an issue)

I've worked out in dozens of hotels and you can generally tell what they're like the minute you walk in...

I'd at least pop in for a demo etc...