Withdean Sports Complex

Negative experience: DON’T PARK HERE! They literally will charge without hesitating even if you simply forgot to buy but were willing to pay at the end. I’ve got 2 parking tickets just because their stupid system wasn’t designed to remind before you pay or just simply charge at the entrance

Fantastic experience: Awesome climbing walls

Fantastic experience: Food & drink was reasonably priced, recommend this place

Negative experience: Do not go to this gym. Front desk staff are so rude, I went on a day pass having never been and they smirked when I didn’t know where the gym was in the complex and didn’t tell me where the changing rooms were. I’m not sure how I would know having never been there. Couldn’t see any locker rooms along the way and there weren’t any in the gym so I asked a member of staff who took me on a 10 minute walk down to the toilets instead. I spent half an hour trying to find the lockers and still no sign. Went to go ask reception and no one was there and the place was swarmed with kids everywhere. Ended up just walking out having not even used the gym. Definitely will not be signing up to that

Negative experience: so dirty shower room, sauna is out of order mostly. not worth to pay the fee which is more than private gym cost.

Negative experience: I’m not a big fan of athletic stadiums being used as football grounds, but sometimes clubs have no choice. It’s fine, but I’m in no rush to come back.

Fantastic experience: I love coming here

Negative experience: Terrible gym bad equipment terrible booking system plays bad music aswell

Fantastic experience: Amazing memories over the past fifteen years. Really good to be running around the track and the gym facilities, tennis courts and gym facilities are all really good.

Negative experience: I’m beginning to hate this gym, some employees are nice and the gym equipment is decent but I have had enough and am seriously thinking about switching gyms at this point! these rules are just annoying. The open hours for 'junior gym' are restricting and completely defeat the point of a membership that costs almost the same as an adult one but gives such limited use. It’s ridiculous how strict they are on what the system is 'telling them' even though half the people do not scan in or out to the gym. One time they even told me that that ‘junior gym’ was overbooked and wouldn’t let me in when 5 members of junior gym had already walked out and my friend who didn’t book had just walked in a minute before me. Overall Withdean is okay but had ridiculous rules and times that you’re allowed in if under 16.

Negative experience: I have had enough! As a 15 year old user of this gym, I'm just trying to better myself, but these unjust rules are bringing down my mental health. The open hours for 'junior gym' are extremely restricting and completely defeat the point of a membership that costs almost the same as an adult one but gives such limited use. It is utterly ridiculous how strict they are on what the system is 'telling them' even though half the people do not scan in or out to the complex. I wouldn't recommend this place to my worst enemy. Horrific place that really brings down the reputation of freedom leisure.

Negative experience: Gym is busy and small and lots of the machines aren't great.

Negative experience: Careful, they entice you with a trial month on a monthly rolling basis, but don't make it clear that you can't cancel for the first 3 months. It's the classic gym scam making it impossible to cancel a membership.

Positive experience: It's such a great centre. Shame the new gym equipment hasn't really impressed, but you can do so many activities, there is something for everyone, it's pretty decent.

Fantastic experience: Soft play is wonderful, great the kids get 90 mins. Wish there was an adult version.

Fantastic experience: Grate gym, loads to do helpful staff.

Fantastic experience: Breath taking, Posh to say the least. I felt soo reluctant stopping by to see what it looks like. When I finally did, the whole place left me with a mouth watering experience, my Goodness. It is pricey I must admit(with useful discount for desired population).However, if your pocket can afford it, go for it!!!

Negative experience: Just went there with 4 and 3 years old paid £13.00 but once inside it was so hot and smells really bad went back to reception and they said there is AC there installed and they can’t do anything about it. Not going to go there again waste of time and money

Fantastic experience: Great day

Positive experience: It's alright, not ideal when the weather is anything but sunny and the roads are quite tricky around it but otherwise it's fine

Positive experience: Went to the Level Up soft play but I wasn't really impressed. The main soft play is on a few levels opposite a small area with 4-5 tables, but once the kids go in you can't really see them. The ball pit is made of giant transparent soft balls but better suited to the older kids as little ones get stuck between the balls (so may get a bit scared). From the seating area you can see and has a small trampoline inside but it's quite small so older toddler tend to get bored quickly (my 3 year old lasted 10 minutes) and want to go in the other section which isn't really suitable for 2-4 year olds. Also the cafe' and snacks bar is OUTSIDE the soft play room (in the main reception) so you can't just get a coffee/snack/water while the kids play. You have to get the kids out of the soft play, walk out of the room to the main reception, get what you need and then go back to the soft play room. It didn't quite work for us.

Positive experience: Car park for park and ride is very confusing. £3 before 8, £10 over night but 1st 3 hours free. 10 minutes of button pressing to pay for 4 hours, cost £13 from 6.30pm

Positive experience: Location of , I believe Brighton's only Park & Ride, Unusually the location is to North of Brighton in Wthdean Sport Complex not many spaces unfortunately Parking is free for 3 hours as we were intending to stay longer we paid £3.20 Pay by Phone is the provider for this car park location code 809571 I found loading App IMO the best option Setting up is not without its problems As usual, you will need your car registration, a suitable debit or credit card with security code pin

Positive experience: I was playing in there a long time ago and I fort potatos going to tat and because I hate everything haters going to hate HAHAHAHA 5️⃣

Fantastic experience: Im a member of freedom and have a multi pass. Withdean is by far my favourite venue due to its sheer size and extensive equipment with the new upgraded machines its a great gym with lots to offer people. They also have a cafe and activity centre for the children to enjoy. They offer classes and have saunas in the changing areas, tennis courts, track and field events and a climbing wall.

Positive experience: Gutted I didn't realise you had to pay when you when you park & ride now I have been coming hear for years didn't even think about it I'm now waiting for the fine.

Fantastic experience: Taran was amazing. She greeted and served us with a beautiful smile and amazing energy. Will come back again!

Positive experience: Helpful staff. Here to use climbing walls. Good facilities and cafe on site.

Fantastic experience: Went to level up soft play. Kids loved it. Limited seating when busy so get there early. Cafe with good range of drinks and snacks in main reception.

Negative experience: The gym is bad value for money, hard to get use of equipment even at non peak times, not the cleanest and important equipment missing (no Smith machine, no ab bench, 3 running machine)

Positive experience: I love the track and climbing facility so lovely there but the staff behind main reception are always so rude with their unwelcoming presence

Negative experience: tried calling them multiple times kept saying i’m in a queue once i get to 1st in queue they don’t pick up after over 20 minutes of waiting. I’m a member so this service is appalling

Fantastic experience: Good facilities. Clean and well organised.

Negative experience: Some staff are ok, but most are rude and seem to hate working at the place. This is particularly the case of Reception staff.

Positive experience: Can't say much. Only used the car park.

Fantastic experience: Parked here for the park and ride to get bus into Brighton. Plenty of parking room, frequent buses into town.

Positive experience: Used the car park only for the park and ride. Car park is open and clean. Easy to find and paking was simple

Positive experience: Good carvery as part of a two course meal offer. The apple pie and custard was very good. The venue does look very tired though needs some tlc

Positive experience: Great carvery and affordable. Good selection of meats and alternative meals too. Spacious and great for all types of meeting.

Fantastic experience: Been loads of time always been good had a family meal boxing day service very good staff very pleasant would definitely come again x

Negative experience: Terrible food staff are awful stay away.

Positive experience: Not the cleanest gym. Best not to look too closely. For some reason Cleanliness / Hygiene don't seem to be a priority. I E Behind the treadmills lots of fluff.

Positive experience: When for a swim sunday afternoon Had swimming Divided swimming lane, mixed showers and changing rooms. Very clean and tidy with hair dryers.

Positive experience: Nice, modern gym, shame they close it earlier on the weekends.

Fantastic experience: Great leisure centre although we already have one in woking which is now closing due to a massive debt incurred by useless conservative councillors. It’s a scandal

Negative experience: Seriously lacking in customer care. So bad I cancelled my membership.

Negative experience: Ignored by the receptionist who picked the skin of his hands...has really put me off... Classes take no account of different skill and fitness levels.

Fantastic experience: Went climbing and the kids had a blast. Staff were helpful and friendly

Fantastic experience: Nice and refreshing to sit outside in the lighter summer evenings. Very nice. Those wet autumn leaves make the roads and paths particularly slippy - especially dangerous in the longer darker evenings.

Fantastic experience: Very friendly staff nice place they have a carvery, the veg is some times over cooked. But mostly ok

Negative experience: The facility is tired and cardio equipment is broken more often than not. 3 out of the 6 treadmills have been broken for weeks if not months, same for the cross trainers half are out of order, a rowing machine has been removed as it's broken. Weight equipment when broken takes weeks to be repaired. Even a urinal is out of order and the entry system also broken. I've been a member for over a year and I have seen it deteriorate in this time. I emailed the manager about the concerns but I can only assume his email is broken also...

Fantastic experience: Play netball here on the outdoor courts. Loads of parking

Fantastic experience: Tall walls, a rock box place, nice staff and a huge gym upstairs. What more could you want?

Fantastic experience: Originally constructed in 1930. It was the home track of Olympic athlete Steve Ovett. Between 1999 and 2011 it was the home ground of football team Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. was used for the Davis Cup match between Great Britain and New Zealand in the spring of 1939 Later developments included a zoo and miniature railway. In 1980 Steve Ovett opened the all-weather running track which was resurfaced in 1997. Its a great venue for some club track training nights, particularly with Arena 80 AC, some tough uncompromising interval workouts, guaranteed to improve your fitness and event times. Evening sessions in the winter also pleasant as the stadium and track is well lit. ‍♂️

Fantastic experience: Amazing place, lots to offer and is overall a good experience.

Positive experience: Would have 5 stars. But don't seem to answer the phone when you ring

Positive experience: It's a big ground with chairs I had sports day there it was fun

Fantastic experience: Really friendly staff lovely centre with a good range of all varieties of climbing. Good training area too

Negative experience: Had a valid guess pass receptionist was very unhelpful and rude. Even though I use the same pass a week ago and had no problems. Bad experience. never go back

Positive experience: Enjoy going with friendly staff. Technogym steppers now in a poor state of repair with several broken and hardly any have a TV signal anymore. House maintenance needs improvement. e.g. gents toilet has had panels missing and a broken sink tap for months. Entry system relies on reception staff, the technology of the entry machines and swipe to enter gym or changing rooms appears to be broken and it seems until recently it was being abused. Stretching area on gym floor still too small especially when ‘Synergy’ taking place when there is pretty much nowhere to go.

Positive experience: I have emailed the management team first, but they never replied so I guess I will publicly share my opinion. Turning off music in the gym between 1pm-2pm because one person wants to train in silence just doesn't make sense. The uncomfortable and heavily demotivating silence does much more damage to the 99% of people that are training, compared to the bizzare 1% that want to train in silence. I suggest the management team do what the majority of gym users want in any gym in the world, which is always play music.

Positive experience: Easy access for Park and Ride into Brighton, although quite a lot of stops along the way. Easy from here back onto the main roads though, so far less hassle than driving into Brighton and then trying to find somewhere to park.

Positive experience: Carvery and a half decent menu, well-stocked bar with friendly staff

Fantastic experience: Brilliant wall climbing with excellent instructors.

Fantastic experience: Delicious carvery, nice coffee, usually not packed

Negative experience: not nice staff. nothing on the website about not being able to go in without membership.

Positive experience: Free parking and good facilities to use whilst waiting for the park & ride bus.

Negative experience: Half the treadmills have been broken for months along with some of the cross trainers. There's also only two exercise bikes since the refit. This is a poor amount of CV equipment for a gym this size which seems more focussed on weights nowadays.

Negative experience: Had carvery wasn't as nice that it has been,lukewarm

Negative experience: So much broken equipment that’s not fixed for weeks and weeks - the cv section currently has six machines broken - shocking

Negative experience: Very poor facilities for squash. Particarly toilet and showers

Positive experience: Was ok just a lively table sat infront of us using awful language .

Negative experience: Freedom Leisure website needs to be updated to be clear there are no options for guest passes and the “Discover Withdean” passes they sent out with no expiry date are no longer valid; sloppy marketing

Fantastic experience: Great gym, yes reduced sauna times but hasn't affected me. I have a big work van so really handy car park and i come pretty much daily, otherwise i don't think I'd be able to go to a gym at all in Brighton! Me and my partner pay £96 a month unlimited connect so I've got squash whenever i want and i can use the pool at king Alfred's too. Worth it IMHO! Please don't change!

Positive experience: The gym and facilities are brilliant, I love the new gym equipment, easy access and great opening hours. I am totally astounded however by how rude one particular reception staff member has been on multiple occasions, not just to myself, my husband too and others I’ve observed. Asking for lost property was like I had asked her to help me move house, checking in often is a battle if acknowledged at all and when interaction happens she has the rudest demeanour. It must take so much energy to be so abrupt and unfriendly.

Fantastic experience: Nice tasty food. 6 of us had a variety; pizza, burger, fish, carvery, gammon & egg. Good value, very pleasant hard working staff.

Positive experience: We gad a family carvery. The vegetables were really fresh, the portions of meat were good.. Nocks spot's in my opinion to a well known carvery chain. The rest of the food being served up looked good, although we didn't actually have any

Positive experience: Looks great. Got the tour! Great facilities

Positive experience: Facilities are pretty good for a local authority run leisure complex. They have invested in Padel tennis which shows progression and a response to the huge demand for this growing sport. Staff are friendly and changing rooms cleaned regularly. I’m not a gym user so can’t comment on the equipment. Indoor and outdoor tennis and a climbing wall. Cafe is fine for what is needed.

Fantastic experience: The Sportsman offers good value roasts and a good choice of draft ales! What's not to like!

Fantastic experience: Have never been there.!!! I am 83 year old lady. So way beyond doing any wall climbing or any other sports! !

Fantastic experience: Great instructors and very friendly venue for climbing

Fantastic experience: I love the community feeling here. Unfortunately prices have risen due to the global situation but personally that means I pay more for less as I'm an early bird and have lost use of the sauna and my shower 9s cold before 7 am. Other than that I love it.

Fantastic experience: This is best leisure center for Brighton even without a swimming pool. It has gym, indoor-outdoor tennis courts, modernized gym, football-running field, many squash courts, many special classrooms, sauna, a pub and even climbing wall…. Some more maybe I’m not aware. Big free parking space. Staff very friendly and problem solver. Clean, warm and not annoying busy. Open till 10 pm. What else; go and try for free! They have plenty options for membership. Go for it you’ll not regret it!!!

Fantastic experience: Like going for a nice dinner and drink. Been quiet a few times.

Negative experience: Wow! This Gym has gone down big time! NO security - swipe cards on doors don't work and absolutely ANYONE can walk into ANY room including the changing rooms where your valuables are! The Sauna's light has been out for YEARS and still they come up with the same excuses, 'We're waiting for someone to fix it', or 'electrical issues', the sauna temperature is low, the sauna is now only from 9am, not 6am as before, but then what's the point if it's dark, and just warm anyway? AND now there's also no thermometer in the sauna. I've been a member for years so don't believe any rubbish responses from the manager that this review will most likely get. As soon as my membership is up, I'm out. Save your money and look else where.

Positive experience: Great facilities with track & field & well equipped gym. Nice pub for food & drink should you require it.

Fantastic experience: If you're looking for a spacious gym with new and wide variety of gym equipment as well as excellent air conditioning, then this is the place to go. I should add that they give discount to local council staff. Highly rate.

Positive experience: I've been a member here for 25 years. Staff generally great. Have always enjoyed the gym but now many of the aerobic apparatus are out of action and have been for a while, this really needs sorting out, disappointed when I visit at the moment.

Fantastic experience: Lovely centre with lots of different facilities for all

Fantastic experience: I recently joined this gym. Great facilities, handy parking, and friendly staff. Would definitely recommend. (Other facilities there Inc climbing wall, squash courts)

Negative experience: Was approached by the Brighton Atheltic Club chairman/Woman and was told not to take any photos of the stadium whilst Atheltics were taking place, even though I was purely there for football reasons only she still wasn’t happy I had taken photos of the stands. I had to remind her that a people would be turning up within the hour and doing the exact same thing as me and taking photos of the stadium for football purposes. Found this woman to be rude. Stadium itself is poor too

Fantastic experience: Excellent gym, friendly and welcoming atmosphere. Wide selection of equipment and facilities

Fantastic experience: Went climbing at Highsports at Withdean. Did an adult intro session. Great fun. We'll be back... Update. Now completed Rock Start course and am qualified for independent climbing. Great fun progressing through the grades (slowly!).

Fantastic experience: My favourite gym, lots of equipment, friendly staff

Negative experience: It would seem that the centre is understaffed and the management have little interest in anything other than making a easy buck. This is higlighted by the trials and tribulations of the Padel Court

Negative experience: Nothing positive to say about this place . Bad service all round and most staff seem to lack basic customers service skills. Staff also seem to lack any knowledge about simple things. For one experience I had, when canceling my membership, i was told to send an email. Its been a month now and nothing has been confirmed, or acknowledged. This is a big problem when a customers needs control over their personal financials. I've then had to chase them upa few times by calling reception where know one has a clue what to do. I'm still none the wiser that my membership has been canced, it's now rolling onto the next month. I do expect efficiency when dealing with the financial side of peoples situations. Staff are generally pretty rude as well. For example, when I walk in to scan my membership card on the reader that is used for members to enter, the girls on the desk, no matter what girl, makes a snappy comment about not using it while they are doing soemthing else on the computer that its linked to. This rude as we dont know about their set up.this reaction is not necessary. Overall, it's over priced. I'm not impressed but I'm stuck in a minimum of a 3 month contract at £58 a month. I think the cost of this place is based around the expansive hoseses that are located nearby. They must have some wealthy customs where money and serves isnt priority. It's very very average for its membership prices. On the only positive I have, the gym is big.

Positive experience: Great place. Track and surrounding area needs a bit of a renovation

Positive experience: Park and Ride was epic. Everyone should experience once in a lifetime. Bucket list check..

Fantastic experience: Excellent meal again. Roast beef was so tender. Staff friendly & helpfull - b back again soon