The club is located in a residential area, easy to reach with plentiful parking if you're in a car, but limited bus services. As for cycling - you'd think a leisure complex would know better! Only a couple of uncovered cycle racks.
The club itself is very large and features:
A big open plan gym, featuring separate weights and aerobic areas 9 indoor tennis courts (carpeted) 8 badminton courts (also carpeted) 5 outdoor tennis courts 3 squash courts Indoor pool Outdoor pool Separate kids' pool Spa, sauna + steam room beauty salon sportswear shop cafe/bar
Sporting Facilities - Having visited plenty of gyms, I can wholeheartedly say they are top notch. The gym equipment is on the whole excellent, though some newer fixed weights would be nice. However, there are ample aerobics stations, including treadmills, lay-back and upright cycles, rowers, cross trainers, hand cycles, and climbing ones (I've probably forgotten some). There is never a time when you would have to queue for equipment. Water fountains and paper towels are provided.
The courts are all also in excellent shape with first class carpeted tennis and badminton courts. The advantage of indoor tennis courts as well as outdoor is that you can enjoy the sun in summer, but play all winter long, whatever the weather.
The swimming pools are well arranged. Having a separate kids' pool is a great advantage for those who want to do lengths undisturbed. The pools are usually divided into lanes and are often virtually empty. Having the outdoor pool is lovely though it is sometimes closed in the winter (negotiations ongoing on this point).
The spa is located in the pool complex and is mixed sex, but saunas and steam rooms are divided by gender and you're free to strip off if you want - a big bonus if you've had a good workout.
Classes - They run a vast array of classes, from spinning (an absolute killer where you have to rotate your legs at supersonic speed) to Pilates (keeping fit for posh people!). On any given day, expect around 12 classes, (although there are less at the weekend). Most of the classes are included in the membership price but some of the more exotic ones may cost extra. Periodically short courses will be run, including short tennis for children, how to manage your diet and so on (often with extra charges).
Changing Rooms - Are large, mostly open plan, and single sex. Can get busy with a lot of children (at least in the women's section). The showers are brilliant, with ample hot water and free soap dispensers. There is a "beauty" section (at least in the women's changing rooms, can't vouch for the mens!) with free hair dryers.
Membership - You can have different degrees of membership - as this is a "raquets" club you can have raquets or non-raquets membership - a full raquets membership, getting you access to all sporting facilities (barring classes costing extra) would set you back about £70 per month. There are discounts for students and you can negotiate use of the other David Lloyd clubs around the country. Please note though, that the membership period is fixed - you must give 3 months notice.
Opening Hours - pretty much all the time. From 7.30am to 11pm every day except Sunday (when it closes at 10.30).
Sporting Clubs - Various sporting clubs are set up within the club, including tennis, badminton and squash. From time to time members will create their own personal training clubs, like running clubs.
Bar/Shops - The bar is friendly and laid-back with newspapers laid on - a nice place to relax after a work out. As you would expect with a gym, both the sportswear shop and bar are overpriced to match the market - but they are pleasant and the sportswear shop provides a good range of trendy clothes for the gym fashionistas.
Gym programmes - when you join you are given a free induction and programme workout suited to your needs which is a big advantage. This can also be reviewed for free at regular intervals.
Atmosphere - The gym can be intimidating, but there is a full range of body types there and you shouldn't feel intimidated for long. Yes, it does attract the super fit people with designer gym gear, but there's also a range of people in the normal category.
The raquets clubs are a good way to meet people if you go on a regular basis. There is a hard core of people who go every week so you will soon get to know people.
This is a family-oriented club and you should expect to see lots of kids, especially in the changing rooms and swimming pool. However, with the kids pool they rarely invade your space, so it is not a big problem.
In conclusion, I would definitely recommend West Bridgford - but it does come with a very high price tag attached. Make sure you can afford it because you'll be paying for three months after you decide to leave!
More details
Price
Depends on membership - about £70 for full membership
Size
Very Big
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