David lloyd gym membership.....prices??

randh

I have been quoted £140pcm for a family membership (no rackets) with 2 kids (5 &6) for Cheshire Oaks. This compares to £90 pcm (+20pa for the kids) at Total Fitness. I have just cancelled at my local Total Fitness because it is becoming very run down (old equipment/air doesn't work effectively etc./dirty pool) . It's a shame really as staff are good and it is round the corner from me.
This will be my 3rd stint as a member of David Lloyd. I have previously cancelled due to escalating fees. However, now the kids are older they can use more of the inclusive kids activities, which we were effectively paying for previously but they weren't old enough to use.
The equipment & gym environment has always been excellent and is replaced fairly regularly. My wife used to do some classes and they were good. Kids used to do swimming & tennis lessons which were also good, but very expensive!!!!! Fortunately they can continue to do their swimming at Total Fitness without being members.
During our previous stints, we have always had a good experience with the staff, even when cancelling (just make sure you give it in writing in person and get a receipt), and the equipment & environment are very good.
As people have said be wary of the 3 month cancellation and the fact that your fees are likely to increase above inflation after your 1st year.
Re the 3 months notice issue, one trick might be to submit your notice at month 9 and see what offers they give you when you come to the end of your notice. When I have previously left they have always come back with reduced membership offers.
Another tip, if you are worried about the money, is to make sure that the things or your want to do are included in your membership before signing up to avoid disappointment. You can see these on the DL website. Things like kids swimming lessons are not.

grahamv63

David Lloyd is a business geared towards making money from high earners with big families. I signed for adult beginners tennis and PT. The tennis coaches are just interested in kids and experienced players. The PT I hired sold me lots of extras on my 10 sessions course which were forgotten by session one.
I was called by phone and offered a £8 discount on a £48 tennis course. Couldn't get hold of the guy when I rang back so had to pay full amount on starting the course. The last two sessions have been cancelled at short notice.
Completely disillusioned and my money back on the extra courses I have bought. Any advice? How can I terminate membership?

fountain-of-useless-info

David Lloyd does work if you are generally pretentious, have money to burn, if you genuinely use gyms around the country during work or leisure - and if you actually play alot of tennis etc and use lessons etc. Otherwise DL does not make sense - and staff are disturbed, not disgusting. Total Fitness was best general option until they closed half their gyms and NOTE - if there's a TF near you it will probably your best option cos of your kids. DW gyms are standing out as best at the moment in my book - at about £390 for 12+2 free mths - can't remember exactly what I am paying but deal is still on. DW gyms are good - posh, good wet sides and stuff that works - staff don't seem to have most of the usual 'issues' encountered at other chains. Virgin works if your life revolves around London and you can afford double - DL is a joke and should be generally avoided. If you want weights and shower 24hrs/day definitely go for Pure - absolute bargain but no swimming etc. DW gyms are in good places - but don't use their website to see the red dot locations - get onto google map of the UK and put DW gym into the search box - I use the one at Bangor when on hol in N Wales, LLanelli when on hol in S Wales and Barrow or Morcambe when visiting Lakes - Blackpool works well when visiting with kids - Tunstall off M6 is new and spotless and great peeps - Canterbury is good on way to Dover - take a hol to Scotland and circuit up to Aberdeen and Inverness - etc - etc - etc. I'd respect the point someone is making about changing your gym from time to time - I've done this a few times - helps to get things clear long-term better than any other way. Steer clear of Bannatime wasteoftime they'll even try to charge you to use a different gym and gyms and pools are naff and pretentious. I'd re-iterate that if you have a 6 and 8 yr old Total Fitness is best value, has idiot staff trying to clean saunas with bleach and tripping you up with hose pipes before closing time, weird concentrations of chlorine in pools and steam rooms on par with mountain fog etc - BUT they do work - one or another sauna/sanitarium(!) will be working and the gyms have more things for kids inc small pool times etc - but dunno if there's one near you etc. If not I'd go DW. Don't forget that any gym contract reqs 1 or 3 month's written notice for cancellation - made within month 11 or 8 respectively. Check your contract - DW is one month.

System

I went for a look round the Brierley Hill one (west mids) and was quoted £46 a month which seems fair to me - no pushy sales either :-)

The_gardener_3

Peak
No rackets
No spa
Swimming

Single £91 per month
Couple £77 per person
Child £20 per month (under 5 £10 per month)

£204 per month for our family of five.

Didn't join.

the_g

I'm at a Nuffield Health in Central London - £60 per month including pool and towels on each visit.

jackchis

hi everyone,

does anyone know how much david lloyd warrington is a month?

the sales person is refusing to tell me. but she wants me to come down to the club and talk "options" i told her i only want to go the gym. might as well go the 24 hour pure gym round the corner for £18

clare_hancock

The_g, gosh you've done well, mine goes up to £61/month for off peak only and I'm in st albans, outside London! Mind you it has gone up 15%. I'm looking around as many of the cardio machines are poorly maintained, the showers have been cold for weeks, the cafe was closed 5 weeks for a refurb , the manager git sacked and the club is in disarray as many staff have left to go to the new council gym in st albans (too far for me)

Charliezoo

clare_hancock wrote: »

The_g, gosh you've done well, mine goes up to £61/month for off peak only and I'm in st albans, outside London! Mind you it has gone up 15%. I'm looking around as many of the cardio machines are poorly maintained, the showers have been cold for weeks, the cafe was closed 5 weeks for a refurb , the manager git sacked and the club is in disarray as many staff have left to go to the new council gym in st albans (too far for me)

Is that the Hatfield club, Claire? If so I'm really shocked, I haven't been there for a while but it used to be an amazing club! What a shame.

clare_hancock

Hi. The club I refer to is Nuffield Health (was Cannons before) in highfield area St Albans. The David Lloyd is in Hatfield. It is about the same price off peak (especially if you pay annually) but on a tour of DL their pool was broken.....and they charge also for kids, my 2 year old would be £7.50/month and my 4 year old £10/month rising to £29.50 when she's 5.....I'm looking to change and Gosling Park in Welwyn looks good but no kids pool. I need a creche, limiting my options.