University of Birmingham Sport & Fitness

Positive experience: Quality of equipment and cleanliness of fitness suite are great here. Generally very good facilities. I find the sauna to be quite small though considering the size of the centre. Parking for community members is useful and included, which is good. The swipe access is a bit of a pain; tapping would be so much easier. The car park should have at least a few charging spots at the very least. Membership for off peak is reasonable but can get very crowded in the evenings. Most maintenance work will happen in off peak times so you get even more restricted access than what you pay for. Overall a good place for fitness but they could definitely up their game. Few more improvements are required to make this 5 star but sadly Birmingham fitness options are limited. They should offer NHS discounts also when you’re around the corner from the QE. Update: Dropped a star due to really poor customer service not on site. I've emailed regarding some issues (steam room closed for weeks, changing opening times) and it's so poorly received. Huge shame.

Negative experience: I’m very disappointed with the customer service and the handling of membership suspensions and cancellations. I requested to freeze my membership on November 30th, before my next billing date, yet I was still charged for December. When I explained my situation and financial constraints, there was no flexibility or willingness to help, even though I couldn’t use the facilities for that month. Additionally, the requirement to give a full calendar month’s notice meant I had to pay for two extra months beyond what I planned. While the facilities themselves are good, there are often issues with availability. The sauna is frequently overcrowded, and there’s limited access to equipment, forcing you to alter your workout routine. Given the price of the membership, the overall experience simply isn't worth it. This lack of understanding, rigid policies, and the overcrowding have left me frustrated and dissatisfied. I would not recommend this service to others based on my experience.

Fantastic experience: New, clean, well-equipped sports and fitness centre with gym, pool, sauna, fitness halls and squash courts. The facilities are great, although sometimes it helps to find a time when the students are busy as it can get pretty packed in the pool and sauna, and they are kind of in their own social world of sports club chat, which is slightly strange as a member of the public. Fitness halls do all the Les Mills classes as well as yoga, weights conditioning and Pilates. The long opening hours are a big plus, too. Dry changing rooms are good, wet changing rooms are fairly gross. Wet changing room also only has push button showers which go off in 5 seconds, so they obviously don’t want you to have a proper shower there. Gym gets busy with people doing weights, so again I avoid peak times.

Negative experience: I've been a member of this gym since May having paid for a year's membership upfront, which I now regret.  Unfortunately, my experience has been quite disappointing. The gym's facilities are excellent, don't get me wrong. However, it is consistently overcrowded from 4pm, which makes it very difficult to use the equipment without extended wait times. Additionally, finding an available locker is a challenge, as they are almost always fully occupied. I had high hopes when I joined, but the overcrowding and lack of access to facilities have made it difficult to fully use my membership and train effectively. I would recommend considering other options if you're looking for a more accessible gym experience.

Positive experience: I came here for a masters swimming gala and I thought the facilities were excellent. The complex is pretty new. There is a good seating area for swimmers. There is a boom in the middle of the pool which allows for a separate warm up pool in addition to the competition pool. The UoB swimming society do a great job at putting events on. There are some fantastic swimmers within their ranks. The whole gala was friendly and competitive and us masters were made to feel welcome and a part of the community. There is a sauna for swimmers use by the poolside. However, I did not avail of this facility. The electronic timing and scoreboard system is amongst the best I’ve seen at any leisure centre around the country and the pool has backstroke wedges, for those who are that way inclined. The pool and centre is basically excellent. However, it has missed out on a fifth star, as I understand due to a quirk in its construction, the whole pool is just short of 50 metres in length, meaning that it cannot host long course competitions.

Fantastic experience: University of Birmingham Sport & Fitness Excellent Like Previous Motor Racing & Martial Artist WWE Wrestling and Boxing 5 Full Stars out of 5 5/5 5\5 5.0/5 5.0\5 5.0 full star out of 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 100% 100.0%

Fantastic experience: I'm absolutely thrilled with my swimming experience at Birmingham University under the guidance of Gary Humpage. His coaching style is both entertaining and incredibly effective. Unlike previous experiences at leisure centre lessons, I've made substantial progress under Gary's tutelage. Gary's ability to quickly identify and address individual stroke weaknesses is truly outstanding. His simple, tailored mental cues have been a game-changer for me and my fellow swimmers. I've seen significant improvements in my swimming technique and am excited to put my newfound skills to the test in a competitive event. I wholeheartedly recommend Gary's swimming lessons to anyone looking to improve their swimming abilities in a fun and supportive environment.

Fantastic experience: Good facilities, can be a bit busy in term time however.

Negative experience: The swimming instructor for stage 10, Gareth, doesn’t like people from other races such as he does not like people from other ethnicities that aren’t what he would belong to. He isn’t able to communicate to people of other ethnicities, he really just marginalises you during his lessons and ignores you. I wonder how he is still working there, is it because his wife is working in the office in the UOB swimming people and she’s constantly around there?! You need to put swimming instructors who are more communicate with all types of students, don’t create favouritism, treat every student equally, watch every student and give the advice on their swimming (he only gives advise to some people not all). I do not recommend this swimming club at all.

Negative experience: Beware because its tough to cancel. they would not offer any help or advice when I asked to cancel. I’ve been required to pay for almost 2 months that I can’t use it at full membership fee because they were completely unhelpful. While was a member they added a punishment charge for missing booked classes. So I asked them to improve the signage inside the gym to get to the dojo without using the wrong staircase and they did nothing about it! what a derogatory way to treat members

Negative experience: Very disappointed. Really hard to cancel membership and it still required me to pay even i never used it anymore. Be careful taking membership here! very expensive, staff was very unhelpful.

Fantastic experience: Clean and well kept facilities

Positive experience: Facilities are top notch in regards to changing rooms, toilets, pool etc. Gym is far too rammed at all times and you will have to wait for almost every possible piece of equipment. Sometimes up to 15 mins for just one. Turns a 30 minute workout into 1 hour and a half.

Negative experience: I love it when the attention seeking gym members drop their weights on the floor, it emphasises the music throughout the gym perfectly.

Fantastic experience: Simply the best,. No where else comes anywhere close to this place on every level. Staff, facilities, breadth of classes, sports. Thank you.

Fantastic experience: Out of all the sports centres/leisure centres I have ever been to, this is by far the best centre I have been to in my life! The facilities, availability of machines in the gym, architectural layout, changing rooms and the staff are excellent! I would give all those 5 star! All of them! I haven't as of yet used the pool but in due course I will and I dare say that'll be another 5 star to leave! It may not have the ultimate cheapest membership of all sports centres, but at the end of the day like they say, you get what you pay for and I think this is worth every penny paid. Ticks all my boxes.

Fantastic experience: A great place to be educated

Fantastic experience: Excellent facilities

Fantastic experience: Amazing sports facilities

Fantastic experience: Huge sports centre, hired out a badminton Hall for 80mins. Good flooring, plenty of space at the edge of the room to watch and put your bags.

Fantastic experience: Always great experience, lovely helpful staff, clean & tidy. Equipment is excellent.

Fantastic experience: Clean pool, great coaches and enjoyable lessons.

Positive experience: I go to the swimming pool. The teachers are very nice and the lessons are very organised. The pool is nice and clean and there is a Costa in the building which I go to after every lesson and it is delicious. However, the cubicles are very dirty and it feels like there are crumbs on the floor. The cleaners really need to clean those kind of places more often.

Positive experience: Nice venue but hall layout is not great for spectators

Fantastic experience: Its one of the best fitness center I hv seen. Though it is expensive as compare to any other fitness center around bur has high standard, high class , clean, upto date center. All new gym equipments, swimming pool, squash court and many more... free 3hours car park for members only, otherwise good bus connectivity if anyone want to use... staff is really gud n supportive.... the may attraction is their cleaniness n hygene.

Negative experience: They can steal your money and cancel your membership on a wim, so beware of this before signing up.

Negative experience: Very disappointing not to be able to purchase swim only memberships for someone working at the QE, with only a few 50m across England. Pools should be made more accessible. Unhappy alumni.

Fantastic experience: Lifeguards always on station, the sauna room and steam rooms are comfortable. I enjoy the 1.2m pool. In four weeks from now, i will try the 2m pool

Fantastic experience: Really nice big pool. Beautiful area. Free parking available for members.

Fantastic experience: Best pool in Brum, always clean and great value for money, free parking is also a bonus!!

Positive experience: Modern, clean, great pool and facilities. It's such a shame that the coffee shop is a horrible chain- Costa! Disgusting coffee and corporate atmosphere. I won't be going in there. If they could put a nice independent coffee shop in there, I'd stay after my workout.

Fantastic experience: Only ever used the pool but it’s amazing! So big and clean

Fantastic experience: Absolutely world class place and I've been everywhere.

Negative experience: If you are thinking of becoming an off peak community member.. don’t. They regularly limit your already restrictive access times (during holiday periods when the facility is quiet, paradoxically) and try to coax you into buying full membership as a result.

Positive experience: Quality facilities with good opening times. Gym's pricing is, however, a little high at over £350 for students.

Negative experience: They don't do day passes.

Negative experience: Good gym with good staff but cleaning of changing rooms and wet area changing rooms ie shower etc need to be improved. Poo stains in toilet, hair in shower, wet area changing room pretty dirty all the time. There needs to be more constant cleaning in these areas. Improvements have been made on the gym floor with updated equipments etc but the cleaning is dire. Showers in the swimming area have mould within the grout and rust everywhere. Hair all over the place. Also it’s 2023, please update with a finger press entry system. You have to constantly use your card to get into every area. Once you have done a hard workout you don’t want to be constantly trying to find your card to get into each area of the gym it’s annoying. Even small gyms at fraction of the price of this gym have touch finger entry

Negative experience: I had a swimming membership a month before covid struck at my local fitness centre, and it was shut down, today I have made an enquiry as I'm ready to go back now and have been told there is no swimming membership and I will have to get a community membership which I have no problem doing. However, I have also been told that I am required to repay the joining fee which is £35 AGAIN, even though my membership was stopped through no fault of my own. I'm very disappointed in the way this has been handled. And now I have to look elsewhere which is a great inconvenience as this fitness centre is on my doorstep.

Fantastic experience: I use the swimming pool only. It’s a great sports center. Well organized, very clean and a fabulous swimming pool.

Positive experience: Great place, super facilities but atrociously high parking fees!! £20 for 3.5 hours... ludicrous... thank goodness I managed to get a discount from the organisers today... and that wasn't easy!!

Positive experience: Went to the GB Karate Championships at the sports area. Desperately in need of air con. Same as last year.. Other than that not too bad. Apart from being a bad place to find and avoid the clean air charge.

Fantastic experience: Great venue for the commonwealth games squash.

Fantastic experience: Went to see the Hockey one day and Squash the next. Had a good time.

Fantastic experience: Amazing EXPERIENCE

Positive experience: 10 mins Train Journey from NewStreet Station Hockey and Squash events for Commonwealth Games 22

Fantastic experience: Great venue for the hockey

Fantastic experience: What a wonderful venue to host hockey and squash matches.

Negative experience: Equipment and facilities are excellent…..BUT THE STAFF IN THE SWIMMING POOL ‍♀️ ARE RACIST WHEN YOU COMPLAIN ABOUT THEM THE MANAGEMENT SAY EXCUSE THEM THEY ARE DISABLED OR HAVE SOME LEARNING DIFFICULTIES

Positive experience: Good facilities The basketball court's floor has some random gaps which make bouncing the ball funny sometimes.

Positive experience: Good gym but too busy to enjoy

Fantastic experience: Great pool very friendly staff enjoyed our swim, plenty of lanes out, very clean and neat.

Negative experience: Several small things that makes gym experience negative: 1) no data connection (Vodafone at least) in gym so unable to listen to playlists on Spotify/Apple Music or watch YouTube work out videos. UoB guest Wi-Fi does not work. 2) If you wanted to have a gym session followed by swim/sauna you have to use the ground floor changing room, collect your stuff and then move everything downstairs to the swim changing. Keep feeling one day I’m going to forget something somewhere. 3) mixed swim changing room, women hair everywhere! 4) you have to swipe into the sport centre. Then swipe into gym. Then swipe out of gym. Then swipe into swim changing area. The swipe out of swim changing area. Constantly have to have your card with you which is annoying. 5) lockers are small and unable to hang clothes - work clothes get creased. 6) gym changing area has open showers, lack of privacy. 7) weekend closing time 8pm!

Fantastic experience: Great centre. Large Costa coffee. Good viewing of pool.

Positive experience: The facilities were excellent as were most of the staff, except 1 male who clearly wasn't aware of the play in progress on the badminton courts when he came to try and sort the lighting out!

Positive experience: Great swimming pool and good to see lifeguards and staff in evidence throughout centre. Clean changing areas fully H & S compliant with well placed information points for ease of access.

Positive experience: Great gym great equipment and lovely staff.. nice clean gym has everything u need.. the only thing i will say is it can get a little bit to busy at times but other the that 1 the top 10 in Birmingham

Negative experience: Worst reception ever!!! They don’t know anything!! They either give false information or they refer me to the website.. why there’s a reception if I need to go to the website for the smallest questions??? I like the gym facilities and most of the staff are good only the reception team .. they’re absolute nightmare!

Positive experience: Gym is reasonably sized - was expecting bigger as it is extremely busy at times. Swimming pools are great with more than enough room. Steam room and sauna are nice - only thing to be desired is better placement of them.

Negative experience: If you're someone who is wanting a gym to run through your routine consistently, go elsewhere. If you're a lifter looking for a lifting gym, you can find somewhere better for less than a third of the price. The gym itself is poorly equipped in a number of areas, and surprisingly small given the size of the building. There's a serious lack of cable stacks and attachments, space for mats and mobility, and only sometimes the short bars if they haven't been moved elsewhere in the building. Having a stack of set weight short bars would help, but these aren't available. The gym staff also aren't used to some of the givens at most gyms, and force people to perform heavy lifts in unsafe, soft cushioned footwear if found lifting in socks to mitigate this problem. **EDIT** If you want a massive payout from an injury related to performing squats or deadlifts in trainers after being told to by the staff, this might be the gym for you!! The reception staff are incredibly unhelpful, and if asked any queries generally say 'just look on the website'. Obviously I'm aware the website exists, but if I'm there and have a query I would like answered, it's normal to ask staff. I should say that the other facilities such as the pool, sports halls etc are excellent, as are some of the classes (particularly circuits with Dennis!).

Positive experience: An excellent gym (although, to be fair, this is the only gym I've been to) with adequate sport and swim facilities too. While I have had some issues with their IT systems, the staff working there have been very helpful putting in place both temporary and permanent solutions to my problems. The only other issue I have is that the gym can get a little busy at times - I tend to go late at night, but any other time the machines are too close together and you can't take in a bag.

Fantastic experience: Awesome energy Nice ambience Motivated crowd Good, clean and functional equipment Perfect place to get back on fitness track The range of activities is great as well!

Negative experience: Specifically ref swimming lessons not facilities. The coaches do not provide individualised feedback and don't seem to know the children by name or even able to identify which one did what during a lesson. They also do not respond to emails or phone calls at all. You get a message saying 5-7 working days for a response (!?) but I only got a response after nearly 3 weeks and 3 chases after I included a different management team on the email.

Fantastic experience: Excellent. The staff are so helpful welcoming and friendly.

Fantastic experience: Great staff and great facilities

Negative experience: Really poor customer service experienced. They do not pick up the phones to deal with customers and they even just end the call whilst the phone is ringing. Tried entry into the club on a gym and squash membership, even though I do not use the gym and apparently they still do not have single squash memberships left (despite waiting for this for around a year) to be told there was an outstanding amount on my account. A simple question of what is this outstanding fee for caused 3 people to get involved and eventually found a very unconvincing reason for £6 fee. I have paid this fee and was told I would receive a call to follow up on the issue, no call or email followed and now when attempting to book a slot for squash I an unable to do so as there is an apparent issue with the account. Tried calling again, no answer. If you're looking for good facilities but horrendous customer service this is your place.

Positive experience: Very good covid control process. The pool booking system is very useful

Fantastic experience: Great gym, spacious, quality equipment, fantastic group classes. Quiet with students away. New equipment now installed. Great range of classes.

Fantastic experience: Good quality sports centre even in a pandemic. Pool is well managed and spacious, very hygienic. Staff are super friendly.

Negative experience: Warning: The swimming pool is members only, unlike any other pool in the area. Even though it was not term time and the place was virtually deserted they wouldn't allow visitors to swim. Other pools nearby include Northfield Pool & Fitness Centre and Moseley Road Baths where you will be assured of a better welcome.

Fantastic experience: Fantastic gym, well worth the money

Negative experience: You get get charged £10 if you don't attend booking for a squash court. Not a bad idea in principle but the app keeps crashing so you can't cancel a court when you can't attend. They then don't let you in until you pay the fine despite explain the problems with the app. Dreadful customer services.

Fantastic experience: Excellent facilities, good environment and SOPs strictly followed during COVID 19. Lots of activites for all age groups. Swimming pool and gym are the state of the art..

Positive experience: Expensive, but fantastic facilities.

Negative experience: Been skating in the car park for weeks now and we've been told to move on today. There is no cover near by for skaters on a wet day. This is a real shame as I assumed with this being a university building you would have more of a heart when it came to these matters.

Negative experience: Safety concerns regarding children taking lessons. I was unfortunately a witness to an event where a under 4 year old was left alone vomiting next to the pool. Parents are told to wait in the viewing area about 20 metres away. I was worried that the child would faint or slip or choke on her vomit as I saw her scared and vomit 3 times with no help from the staff or lifeguards. There were at least 5 teachers/assistants who were within a few feet distance but none came to help. They in fact shockingly moved away from the poor child as the parents frantically ran to help her. It was scary that the 2 life guards, did not budge to help. I had noticed them a few minutes earlier walking about telling off parents for using mobiles / asking if the kids had a shower before they went in the pool, but did not bother to move an inch when there was a child at risk of fall or aspiration. I am still shocked as I write this review and hope parents who send their children here are aware of this. Please keep a close eye on your child as the staff and lifeguards are apathetic and unsafe. Update: I moved my child to Nuffield Sports in Rubery. She has made such quick progress that I am glad I made the move. UHB swimming classes as unsafe and unfit for kids.

Negative experience: After phoning them multiple times for the past two years or so, they practically never answer the phone. Maybe like a 15% rate of getting through to someone. Very strange, as when I walk in the receptionists very rarely look too busy to answer the phone. Prices are also generally annoyingly high for students considering what we pay them per year. Pretty much the same as any other sports club, if not more expensive. Other Unis offer discounted rates to their students.

Positive experience: Excellent gym, too busy. I've been a member for over 2 years now. During term times the gym is incredibly busy especially around September. At the most peak time of year and time of day you essentially won't be able to use any equipment. Expect groups of 3-4 people crowding around. The squat rack area is excellent and great to see but once again you won't be able to use it during peak times. All that said, there is a lot of cardio equipment so you can usually get a cardio workout in any time of day. If you don't mind going to the gym at 6am when it opens, you'll get at least 45-60 minutes of good strength based training without having to wait for anybody. The equipment is of the highest standard. Several types of barbell including Texas Barbell for heavy lifting and thin Olympic barbells. All of the weight plates in the squat area are high quality and expensive weight-calibrated bumper plates. If this gym wasn't so busy, it would be incredible. If you can only gym straight after work I wouldn't join here.

Negative experience: I sighed my membership and was advised at the time that providing I don’t use the facilities I can cancel my membership within 14 days and get full refund they kept my money and refused to give me back my £46 I was advised by Michael to send him an email for refund but he didn’t bother to respond to the email avoid this sports and fitnes centre

Negative experience: Not open to members of public on pay as you go basis which was really disappointing. Visiting city so walkedwalked 45 minutes from city centre to go for an early morning swim.

Negative experience: Hi all Tried to take the kids here yesterday to check out brums only 50m Olympic pool (really it’s 49m which counts it out) but hey ho , but we’re denied to say members only and no “checking it out” by the lovely lady on the phone , I couldn’t believe it , sad zero encouragement for the kids then hey, I’m flabagasted shame on you Bham uni shame , kids were gutted

Negative experience: Gym is FAR TOO BUSY during term time. You are treated as a commodity rather than a member like at other gyms where your custom is actually valued. Off peak court times are ridiculously late, and therefore the off peak membership is not really fit for purpose.

Fantastic experience: Great pool and great swimming lessons for kids

Fantastic experience: Good gym Plenty of squat racks but no mirrors Tons of different machines Great for leg days

Positive experience: Nice coffee place to relax and chill

Negative experience: I strongly advise not to join this gym for several reasons. 1. Far too many members for the amount of equipment. Expect to have to wait up to 10 minutes for a piece of equipment. 2. Rude reception staff. 3. Many other gyms in the area offer better customer service and better value. 4. They will still charge you after cancelling your membership. I was still billed after finishing my contract. Cancelled my direct debit on advice of reception staff. Received several emails threatening legal action after I cancelled my direct debit. I know several colleagues who have had this same issue.

Positive experience: Beautiful place, for students and staff of the university of Birmingham primarily

Fantastic experience: Top class pool Recommended Bilston Swimming Club

Positive experience: There’s no drop in fee for the pool, you have to pay a membership

Fantastic experience: Nice place; performed Friday prayers with Jama'at led by ISOC member.

Fantastic experience: There are various things to do swimming lessons for the little ones and you can have a coffee in the Costa and relax or sit outside Above of activity

Fantastic experience: I love playing badminton with friends

Fantastic experience: Great sport facilities and friendly class instructors.

Fantastic experience: Clean. State of the art. Lacks seating area and changing room space for competitions but perfect for training.

Positive experience: Nice pool but parking too expensive, not for regular use.

Fantastic experience: So much to see and do new sports centre looks fab

Positive experience: It's new with good facilities

Negative experience: It could do with a good revamp

Fantastic experience: Very accessible, great features

Fantastic experience: Amazing gym top facilities and equipment you see why it cost millions to build just wish it was closer to where I live

Positive experience: Good range of fitness classes - but sometimes fill up extremely far in advance