Which are the best Beckenham gyms and how much do they cost?

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Permalink Reply by M Farrow on February 10, 2012 at 11:48

Depends what you're looking for.  David Lloyd is VERY expensive and nowhere near as good as it was when it was Amida.  It was ridiculously expensive back then.  Some of my colleagues tell me the machines don't work, tiles in the spa area are broken and you can never get into the classes.

I'm a member at Fitness First in New Beckenham.  I think it's impossible to get in there after work but it's otherwise fine.  It has a decent number of machines but not enough mats.  So many more people are getting into core exercise, it can be hard to find somewhere to warm up.

Haven't been to the Spa for years but my colleage left the Spa for Fitness First because of the amount of people in the gym who don't take it seriously.  She said it was impossible to get a decent workout because of all of the waiting around for idiots to not do exercises properly.

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Permalink Reply by PReeves on February 22, 2012 at 11:59

David Lloyd is good, but agree - not as good as the days when it was Amida.  It has also become much more family/child focused, which could be a good or bad thing.  It is not worth the money if you are only after a gym - you need to use the pool/spa facilities and/or tennis/badminton/squash courts to get full value.  Membership is around £90 a month for adult.  And once signed up, you are committed for a year, and then you must give 3 months notice in writing to cancel membership.

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Permalink Reply by Ali on February 27, 2012 at 20:12

I think the Spa is great value for money - but I have no other gym experience, it's quite a new thing for me. I like the fact that you pay by the month and can change or cancel your membership on that basis, without committing to a year or more. I only use the gym and I like the range of machines available and very rarely have to do any waiting around - but I do go during the day. I imagine it's much busier out of work hours. There's a huge range of classes available within the membership fee but I haven't tried one yet - reports from friends who have are good.

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Permalink Reply by Stephen Harrington on March 8, 2012 at 14:51

I agree that David lloyds doesn't represent good value-I am 8 months into my membership and will not renew...

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Permalink Reply by PReeves on March 8, 2012 at 15:25

Stephen - depends how much you use it I guess.  3 or 4 times a week and it begins to make financial sense. 

Is there something particular that has annoyed you about the club?  I know many of us considered leaving when they reduced the badminton & squash courts from 4 of each down to 2 of each.  When you leave, make sure you give notice in writing 3 months before, as I think even the 12 month contracts have 'rolling notice' built into them - I have a friend who signed up on a 3 month contract, yet at the end of it they continued to bill and sadi 3 months notice required to cancel (and they'f paid an extra £30 pounds a month for a 3 month contract!)

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Permalink Reply by Stephen Harrington on March 8, 2012 at 16:13

Hi John-its their money grabbing tactics that I dont like- a club is supposed to be friendly and relaxed-their policy towards membership is hard nosed and aggressive imo-also the lockers have been broken into twice since I have been going...

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