Nuffield Bristol Pool, Sauna/Steam Room Closure for 9 Weeks

Savvy_Sue

DH is paying £58 single, any time, no towels. I think we used to pay £99 for both of us, don't think it was more than £100 at any rate.

We weighed up the towels / no towels thing: not all Bannatynes offer towel hire - when we visit the in-laws in London he has to remember to take one, because they don't hire them out but they offer to sell you one for £12! This one does because it used to be a Living Well and I guess they thought they'd lose too many members if they removed it. Since I'm getting a pair of wet trunks every other day, I'd just as soon have a wet towel too, because otherwise I'd either have wet trunks hanging around until I had a full load, OR I'd be washing half loads all the time. He hires a towel whenever we're going away before I'd have time to get the last load of washing dry, if that makes sense. We have towels which we keep just for this: he prefers 'proper' ones but I have the travel / camping ones which dry faster and are slightly less bulky. Although I do have a tumble drier ...

I guess the other thing you have to weigh up is the convenience. When we first moved here, DH joined Fitness First out at Cribbs (don't even know if that's still there!) That was cheaper, but massively inconvenient: he could only go before or after work, whereas now he can go late afternoon and then go back to work for an evening meeting. Also there's a pool, so the theory is that he can swim to get some exercise if he's got time (he doesn't usually have time) - his main thing is using the sauna because that helps his eczema. AND either of us can get to our respective gyms on the bus or train if the other one needs the car, but Bannatynes is particularly convenient when you live and work on the Severn Beach line!

the other thing is that if you go for towel hire, I don't think you can use any other Bannatynes gyms should you find yourself near one, whereas without towel hire, you can. That may or may not be important to you: given that any plans for going away for us revolve around which days he'll need to sauna, and where we'll be able to do that, it definitely helps us a bit!

ac085

I have been to Clifton College and the pool there is lovely. I would usually have it to myself or with just 1 or 2 other people maximum. (I think there are 3 or 4 swimming lanes)
While there isn't a dedicated parking area for the gym it's actually one of the easier places to park near in Clifton/Whiteladies area. The roads around the zoo are quite wide Obviously if you use the gym/pool during the day it may not be the best option - the school do use it at certain times. The gym would get busy but not the pool.

Another option would be to look into the Bristol, South Glos, North Somerset pools depending on what is most convenient for living in Clifton and where you work. I think one of them currently has an offer on swimming for £20.12 a month.
Don't forget there is the new swimming pool near the new south bristol hospital. There are two pools there, an olympic sized one and a smaller - depth adjustable - training pool. They have adult only swim times. (and a expressions gym.)

Hope you find something useful nearby.

If you do start running around The Downs again I think there is a running boot camp thing that is sometimes running offers on Groupon.
Or there is a running club that starts at Moti - The running shoe shop on Whiteladies. It's green and yellow I think and on the same side as the BBC

dawyldthing

I can't say much about the gyms in your area as i'm on the other side of the country but the other thing is to check out the website off of here: http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/deals/cheap-gym-membership

Which says to check out this: http://www.thegymwebsite.co.uk/gymfinder.aspx?pc=Bristol&dCity=Gyms%20in%20Bristol

I'd recommend going through this way. i go to the Kinetica gym, its by the council but its cheap (I pay 31.03 as it was 29.50 to start with then tax changed or something, but got a cheaper joining fee for going through that site to join) and theres many gyms on there that do various offers, all of which include the classes and swimming like they would normally, its just a cheaper rate. i think mine says its corporate, but it is a good site.

longtimelurkersam

There is another David Lloyd over at Ashton Gate near the Park and Ride. It is HUGE with two pools, one outdoors and heated and one indoors and heated.

However it is not cheap. They do short term memberships for 3 months at a time but these are even more expensive.