Living Well, Premier Barnsley, York

Author's product rating:   

Value for Money	Excellent
Is it part of a chain?	yes
Service	Excellent
Cleanliness	good

Advantages:	Everything you need under one roof
Disadvantages:	May be a bit pricy

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Livingwell is a chain of health clubs across the country owned by Hilton. This means that many of the clubs are located in Hilton complexes. The barnsley club is located adjacent to Barnsley’s main hotel, Brooklands. It is located about 30 second drive from junction 37 of the M1. it is situated on Barnsley Road. It has been opened for about 3 years.

I’ve been a member for about 5 months. I used to be a member at the gym at my local leisure centre but this was about 3 miles away. My mum suggested I got a joint membership with her, and I agreed. Membership charges may be a bit off-putting but I think you get what you pay for. A single membership costs £51 per month and a joint is £88 a month.

The exterior of the club is a giant white prefab building. It has a sloppy roof which makes it look groovy. There are huge windows enabling you to see into the swimming pool, bar, and reception areas. Upstairs the windows in the health and beauty salon are tinted preventing you seeing in from outside. Above the entrance is a huge Livingwell logo so you can be sure you are in the right place.

As you walk in the first thing you notice is the huge reception desk. This is directly in front of you. On your right is a non-member waiting area and the club-pro shop which sells gym accessories. On the left past a controlled entry gate is the bar area which could comfortably hold 60 people. It houses a widescreen television and coffee bar area which sells coffees, teas fruit juices, selected alcoholic drinks, snacks, sandwiches paninis etc. The prices aren’t too bad about £1.50 for a speciality coffee.

To gain entry to this part of the club the receptionist needs to swipe your membership card. This enables the controlled entry gate to open. Once past the gate you can pick up a complementary towel for sue during your visit. Once through the gate you can access all of the club’s facilities.

Facilities in the changing rooms include, iron and ironing board, toilets, complementary hand wash, face wash, hair gel and body moisturiser, use of hairdryers with diffuser and concentrator nozzles, lockers, swimming costume dryer, showers with complementary shower gel. To access the gym you need to go out of the changing room the way you cam in and go up the stairs to the first floor directly opposite the changing rooms. At the top of the stairs is the group exercise schedule and the sensory health and beauty salon. Members get 10% off the price of treatments in the sensory but all group exercise sessions are free. Group exercise sessions includes things like boxercise, aqua aerobics, circuis, body pump, body jam and lots more. It also includes gentle classes like yoga and pilates. Next to this board is the entrance to the gym.

The gym contains plenty of equipment to go round. I don’t normally have any problems with having nothing to do. The gym contains cardio vascular equipment such as treadmill, bikes, crosstrainers, rowers etc. There is a weight section which I don’t use. There is a stretching room which contains gym balls, mats, instruction, ab ball etc. The last section is the resistance area. This contains all the normal resistance equipment which will tone any muscle that you require. Situated in the gym is another set of toilets. There is also water taps and cleaning fluid and tissue at several points in the gym. As well as all of the normal equipment the gym also includes 2 group exercise rooms.

Downstairs is where the pool is situated. This can be accessed through the changing room. On poolside there is a 20m pool, 2 Jacuzzis, more showers, 2 saunas and 2 steam rooms. There is also an area where towels and shower stuff can be stored. Members also have access to a sore room which has items such as floats. Around the pool are loungers (but wheres the sun?) and water taps.

All in all I feel that I get value for money when I come to the gym. It is kept clean and is constantly maintained and upgraded. Members receive incentives for recommending new members, and get issued with several guest passes each year. (taking into mind a guest pass costs £10 to buy). I would definitely recommend this health club to all ciao members. Look past the price, you get what you pay for!!!!!!