Virgin Active Fitness Club, Leeds

I joined Virgin Gym with my partner about nine months ago, lured by a friendly, low-pressure salesperson, and the chance of saving money on a joining offer. It cost us £70 between us to join, and the rest of the month was free. Luckily for us, we joined at the beginning of a month.

The administration side seemed efficient, except for a slight hitch with the direct debit, but that may have been our bank. It costs us £49 per month for ...
...well. There is another Virgin Gym in Leeds, in Great George Street, which is cheaper and offers corporate discounts but doesn't have a pool.

The gym itself is big, clean and airy. Downstairs, there is a reception area, free computer and playstation area, cafe (offering healthy and not so healthy food at very reasonable prices), comfy seating area and library with more free-to-use computers. There is also a Virgin Cosmetics/Virgin Vie ... more

I joined Virgin Gym with my partner about nine months ago, lured by a friendly, low-pressure salesperson, and the chance of saving money on a joining offer. It cost us £70 between us to join, and the rest of the month was free. Luckily for us, we joined at the beginning of a month.

The administration side seemed efficient, except for a slight hitch with the direct debit, but that may have been our bank. It costs us £49 per month for peak membership, and if we want to freeze it would cost £7. It's cheaper for off-peak membership but doesn't suit my working hours. They don't do a swim-only membership either, which would suit me quite well. There is another Virgin Gym in Leeds, in Great George Street, which is cheaper and offers corporate discounts but doesn't have a pool.

The gym itself is big, clean and airy. Downstairs, there is a reception area, free computer and playstation area, cafe (offering healthy and not so healthy food at very reasonable prices), comfy seating area and library with more free-to-use computers. There is also a Virgin Cosmetics/Virgin Vie shop and a salon to book a range of beauty treatments. To gain access to the 25 metre swimming pool and kids pool, you have to go through the changing rooms, which are upstairs.

Upstairs, there is the main gym area, with every piece of gym equipment you are likely to want to use. There are also gym-balls, free weight areas and space to stretch in. Although it can be busy at peak times, I have never had to wait more than a few minutes for a machine, and that was because it was in the women-only area. This is a smaller area with a range of equipment and as the name suggests, no men allowed. Unlike Fitness First (Wakefield), the equipment does work, and the sound system that you can plug into, also works on all machines. Whenever something is broken, it gets fixed within a day or two (again, unlike Fitness First).

There are several well placed water stations, and two rooms for classes. I've never personally been to any of the classes but have been told they are well organised and run. You have to book in advance, but they're all included in the membership price. If you're really masochistic, there is a dedicated spinning class-room (downstairs).

Everyone can have a free program written for them, which is revised at approximately 6 week intervals as your fitness allegedly improves. It's logged by a personalised 'key' which you can put in the machines and it tells you your settings which saves having to carry a card around. The machines then tell you the number of reps, and whether you're using the correct range and speed.

The changing room is quite confusing, with plenty of bays and corners. However, there are always lockers free, and changing rooms for the more body conscious amongst us. Lockers either take a refundable £1 or you can pay 50p for a reusable token. The toilets are kept clean, although aren't the nicest toilets ever. Showers mostly have shower curtains, and have free shampoo/shower gel if you don't want to bring your own. There are free hairdryers in front of brightly lit mirrors, and the swimming costume drying machine as well.

The pool is 25 metres long and is clean, and enjoyable to use as it's not overchlorinated. It does get busy at peak times, but never so much that I've got out in disgust. There's also the spa area which has a jacuzzi, steam room, sauna, sanarium and a range of different temperature showers, including an ice bucket (no thanks!). It's very relaxing with sunbeds around the outside so you can even lie/sit and read the paper.

There are facilities for children of a range of ages, including a kids club, and their own swimming pool. I haven't got kids of my own so don't know the prices. I've always seen them leave with smiling faces so I assume they enjoy it.

Other facilities include personal training and swimming classes, that you have to pay for.

Overall, I really like using the gym, don't get stared at for being the red-faced unfit one, and find everyone really friendly, none of the 'macho' culture that I found as a member of Fitness First. 

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