JD Gyms Cheltenham

Positive experience: Great gym. But need a little respect for very early morning goers.. unfortunately it's taken 3 weeks to replace a water pipe and shower head in the disabled room (still not done)which is the only shower on offer at 4am.. people need to shower before work.. unacceptable and surely under hygiene health and safety .. your JD. People pay money a month for 1st class facilities.. shocking. Manger needs to sort out priorities

Positive experience: Great gym too train at, plenty of functional fitness zones, enough squat racks with enough plates for most!

Negative experience: changing rooms are going down i suppose. Soap dispensers are empty for 2 days and No toilet paper available. Really need to be taken care of..

Negative experience: I like this gym but I don't think it's worth the membership each month. I pay more here than the other site i was at and the other one is much better. Cheltenham has loads of equipment but it's all crammed in. There's no spin room. There's no ladies only area. The boxing area is tiny and there is no space for skipping. The sledge area and battle rope area are tiny. There's no BURN area. Sorry JD but it's just not worth it.

Positive experience: Would be nice to have some of the treadmills facing mirrors to keep an eye on form and music is a bit too loud, as a few others agreed, which makes it hard to hear one’s own music on earphones. Otherwise great vibes

Fantastic experience: Great gym, has everything you need.

Fantastic experience: Brand new so the equipment is great. Quiet at 5:30 started getting busy at 7

Fantastic experience: Big gym, plenty of equipment

Positive experience: way to packed most of the time, the scanners to get in and out are very sensitive and hard to get in and out the dam building. Cant see the people who work there which is defiantly a safety worry. Great facilities just needs refining

Fantastic experience: Дуже хороші й нові тренажери ! Вентиляція працює ,займатись в цьому спортзалі суцільне задоволення. Роздягальні сучасні й чисті.

Positive experience: Can do with more locker after times

Positive experience: This gym is excellent. It has all the equipment you'd need, and some I didn't even realise existed in the first place. Such as a back, row piece of equipment that you lie down on, and pick up the bar from underneath you like a reverse bench press. The look of the gym is really nice too, and I do see the staff going round and cleaning things very consistently which is excellent, and I really appreciated that. The main reason I'm not giving this gym 5/5 stars is because the app isn't good enough. A place that I don't think is as good in terms of experience is pure gym, but that place has an excellent app that allows you to see how many people are in the gym and looks modern. This app doesn't tell you that, looks like a website that was ported to the app, and is just overall not useful at all. I would definitely recommend this gym for the equipment, staff, and cleanliness, but don't think that the app is any good because the 1.8 star Google play store rating is absolutely correct.

Negative experience: Pros: 24 hours (sorta) A big range of good equipment Cons: A lot of broken equipment Locker rooms & sauna closed at night Extremely busy in the day time Music is bad and way too loud Can only enter once per day The app is bad and useless Can't enter with just your pin code So I've been going to this gym on and off since it opened so I'm quite familiar with it however I exclusively go at night time. This is because it is extremely busy pretty much all hours of the day, but tbf that's not really a fault of the gym itself, so let's get into all of the gyms actual faults. So the locker rooms and sauna are locked at night so your only option is the disabled toilets and showers, they claim this is for health and safety reasons but realistically they're just too lazy to have overnight staff or cleaners as this is not the case in any other 24/7 gym I know of. There is a lot of broken equipment, all of the clips are damaged (and there aren't many clips to begin with) about 30% of the benches are broken so the seat wobbles and moves while sat on it, and several machines are also broken in some way. The music is very loud, which I understand during the day with hundreds of people in, but at night, there is no need for it to be so loud I can hear the music through my noise cancelling headphones and it's very distracting. You can only use your app to enter once per day, otherwise you'll have to get staff to let you in, which you can't do at night, so if you've left something in the gym when you leave, you'll have to wait till staffed hours to get your stuff which is crazy stupid. The app is very bare bones and will often not work, while also being your only way in or out, as the access pin you're given doesn't actually work, so if your phone dies then you're out of luck. Overall I think this gym has so much potential to be amazing, but is brought so far down by abysmal management decisions.

Positive experience: I'd give this place top marks if it weren't so freezing cold all the time. Maybe I'm unique, as I'm the only guy training in a coat, but to have the air-conditioning on when it's 13 degrees seems wasteful. If it ever reaches 25 degrees, then put it on. Otherwise, it ain't necessary. One final moan, the music. Whoever wants to listen to music brings their own. Everyone else shouldn't have to listen to the garbage they force into our ears Turn the aircon and the music off, and I'll give ya 5 stars

Negative experience: Fairly good (if cramped) gym but customer service is awful. It’s impossible to speak to anyone and they ignore requests to cancel.

Fantastic experience: How do other gyms compete value equipment cleanliness top notch

Positive experience: Great gym although it is frustrating how many people bring bags into the gym as they just get in the way.

Negative experience: It's a good gym, but shocking that only 2 years after a pandemic the gym still decides not to provide cloth and sanitizing spray for users. It's not about member having or not to carry out any cleaning, it's about giving us the option to sanitize equipment pre and post work out. Basic items every gym should provide! Very disappointing...

Fantastic experience: Been coming here for 8 months now, best gym in Cheltenham. Plenty of machines and space to do what you want to do- even during peak times. Friendly and welcoming staff and the equipment is well looked after and in good condition too. And 24 hour access is a bonus with my line of work.

Fantastic experience: I trained there for several months and it was good and clean and the people were all helpful to make you happy, but unfortunately I left it for the reason of changing the city and I am now in Gloucester and I hope that another branch will be established in Gloucester and I wish them continued success.

Negative experience: This gym 24h on paper only , everything gets locked up 10 every evening and they don't even announce you 2. PLEASE CANCEL MY MEMBERSHIP, I HAVE TRY TO RING ABOUT 30 TIMES LAST 2 WEEKS AND NOBODY IN THE OFFICE, YOU GUY'S SAID WE NEED TO INFORM BEFORE CANCELLING, NOW I'M ON LAST BIT OF HOPE I MAY HAVE TO CANCEL EVERYTHING IS OLD , NOTHING SPECIAL IN THE GYM , COMPARED TO FITNESSFORLESS BISHOP'S THIS IS REAL DEAL

Positive experience: I love going here! Wish the air con was a bit colder as it always seems a bit warm in there.

Fantastic experience: Absolutely love Berry (duty manager) always so smiley and happy to help! X

Fantastic experience: Great atmosphere in gym staff friendly big shout out to Rachel the cleaner always got a cloth in her hand and applying her magic keep up the good work jd gym staff top notch

Fantastic experience: Jd is the best as always have plenty of space for everyone and good amount of weights

Fantastic experience: Great gym and staff but the Disabled parking is a not good at all for blue badge.

Fantastic experience: Great gym, good equipment clean and tidy changing rooms.

Positive experience: Love the equipment! A few pieces of feedback - 1. Couldn't find anywhere to give feedback, only prompts to leave reviews, so it would be really helpful if there was somewhere members could share feedback with the team. 2. The music in the changing room is so loud, it sounds like a club in there. When I asked a member of staff about it, they shared that it is required by head office to be this loud. It feels like a key part of the client journey is being missed, because the music is way louder in the changing rooms, and it feels so disruptive with 180rpm music before and after training. I come to the gym not a club! 3. The acoustics in the group space aren't set for classes. I am in my 20s and couldn't hear the instructor. So it would be great if a mic was used. Thank you!

Positive experience: Great gym, would recommend going during the day or really late at night to avoid the rush! As it can be really hard to get some machines such as hamstring curl or leg press... However, I met the nicest staff there called Jess Berry, she's always so friendly and helpful!

Fantastic experience: Gym is fantastic and I was made to feel so comfortable by my Personal Trainer Ryan H who I’ve been training with for a while. He’s understanding and very helpful with lots of knowledge to help you hit your goals. I’m hoping to join the navy with Ryan’s help to get my fitness up for it

Fantastic experience: Really good gym. Ryan’s really cool

Fantastic experience: Well equipped and spacious

Fantastic experience: Gym is fantastic and a good atmosphere around it too. Massive thanks to my PT Benjamin Wilcox gives me great advice and training would highly recommend to anyone

Fantastic experience: I really like the gym, Brand New equipment and a 24 hour gym, great for when I working long shifts, I can come afterwork and avoid the rush. Bartek is my P.T, been with him a few years now and seeing great progress with him!

Fantastic experience: Great, gym, great equipment. My PT Ben wilcox always keeps me on top of my game and focused

Fantastic experience: Great gym in general, and the location is just perfect!

Fantastic experience: Bart is a great pt and the gym has amazing facilities!

Fantastic experience: Great gym and very friendly staff, one of the pt’s stood out the most his name was Bart, he was very helpful and kind

Fantastic experience: My favourite gym in Cheltenham! All the PTs are always there to help, especially Bart - he’s full of useful tips

Fantastic experience: Loving the gym! A lot of new equipment. I’ve been lifting with my personal trainer Bartek for over a year now. I’m seeing great results!

Fantastic experience: After trying off and on at another gym to get into regular exercise routine. I decided to try out here this new year after a busy December. Wonderful gym made even better by the PT’s, one such PT, Benjamin Wilcox, has taken me under his wing and really been instrumental in getting me into a routine and doing the right exercises and even improving my day to day lifestyle with personal routine and nutrition. Can’t recommend Ben enough for his passion and patience in helping me get to those results I want.

Fantastic experience: Great range of equipment, great team, and offers me the flexibility with my job. Although can get a bit busy, I do suffer from anxiety, I always feel welcome. In the short time I've been working with Bart PT he always pushes me, helped me build confidence and is always easy to get along with. Lost over 25kg with his help would recommend him and the gym.

Fantastic experience: Great range of equipment, staff are always friendly and helpful. Always super clean too! Special thanks to Lucas for being a fantastic PT!

Fantastic experience: A good gym with excellent facilities. A great vibe to the place which helps working out with my pt Carlos who is absolute brilliant, inspiring me to keep going to reach my fitness goals

Fantastic experience: I joined this gym after my previous one closed. It’s extremely well equipped, easy to access and staff and users of the gym are friendly and approachable. I train with a PT there called Lucas Owen, who is the best PT I have ever had. He is also now on staff at the gym. I thoroughly recommend it to people who are apprehensive about joining a gym, you will find a warm welcome here.

Fantastic experience: Absolutely fantastic gym, situated in a great location, clean and everyone is very really friendly! More importantly I have Ben Wilcox as my personal trainer and he is a great PT and motivator to live a healthy lifestyle and to pick yourself up and go to the gym! I always take alot of positivity and great energy from our sessions! I definitely recommend going to JD Gyms for these reasons!

Fantastic experience: Jd opened opposite my house so I thought I would take advantage to get fit. I met Jess berry and she has been amazing from the first consultation to now she has helped me get fit and keep me on the straight and narrow

Fantastic experience: Love this gym, decent space, lots of equipment, energetic and helpful staff such as Jess Berry. Being 24/7 is a massive bonus to have a session whenever I want and not at a busy time. Wouldn’t want to go anywhere else. Perfect!

Fantastic experience: great functional gym, crossfit equipment for commercial prices

Fantastic experience: Top Gym! Very modern and lots of great equipment. The staff are super friendly and Jess was really helpful when I had questions :)

Positive experience: Great gym, got everything you would need. My PT is Ben Wilcox and is amazing, can’t wait for more training sessions goes above and beyond. Best PT I’ve ever had.

Fantastic experience: Spacious and lots of equipment. Personal trainer Bart is really helpful and friendly.

Fantastic experience: Very good gym, large range of equipment and you always feel comfortable there. The staff are very friendly and approachable. Ryan has been extremely helpful when I started and showed me around the gym, I chose him to be my personal trainer and he has been amazing! I have been working with him for three weeks and always feel so much better in myself and am seeing results!

Fantastic experience: JD has a variety of equipment to use which saves question when it is busy. Staff are friendly and helpful esp Ryan he has been helpful and informative on all the equipment

Fantastic experience: Really good gym - Ryan is a fantastic PT and has been really helpful in helping me work towards my goals. My only feedback is please introduce more cleaning stations around the gym so we can clean equipment and mats before/after use

Fantastic experience: All staff are very nice & welcoming. Lucas, Berry & James have all made me feel welcome & Ryan has took the time to show me some new exercises to follow

Fantastic experience: Absolutely love this gym, staff are great especially my personal trainer Ben Wilcox!

Fantastic experience: Great gym. Great PTs, Ben in particular. Lost a stone in 4 weeks while gaining muscle

Fantastic experience: Clean and airy atmosphere very helpful staff

Fantastic experience: Absolutely fantastic gym, always clean and everyone is really friendly! I have personal training sessions with Ben Wilcox and he is brilliant! Always pushes me to my limits and I couldn’t fault our sessions! If you want someone who can get you results then he is the best!

Fantastic experience: Great equipment and super friendly staff. It can be busy at times, but overall, a nice community

Fantastic experience: Great equipment and atomesphere. Ben Wilcox is a fantastic addition to the team at JD, great PT and provides realistic, achievable results in no time!

Fantastic experience: Great kit and great staff! Thanks Lucas for helping me on my leg day!

Fantastic experience: Best gym in Cheltenham. Love the vibe and equipment. Staff are all super friendly. Ryan has given me excellent support and advice how to improve my gym routine.

Fantastic experience: Amazing equipment and even better with my pt ryan always pushes me to get to my goals. Made so much progress in a short amount of time since starting with him

Fantastic experience: Great gym! A lot of equipment so never waiting for anything! Very clean and the changing rooms are spotless. Lovely staff especially Lucas, always friendly and there if I need any help! Highly recommended!

Positive experience: It's a good gym, with loads of new and high quality equipment. There's a few classes every day and generally enough to meet what you'd want, with the exception being a spin class (though you'd need a studio for it, so I can see why it's not there). Maybe a kettlebell class would be a good addition too? I would add more sanitisation stations around, occasionally the blue roll runs out at the one near the entrance and you're out of luck. Having 3 or 4 dotted around would be better. Some machines have multiples but some are one ofs, including the popular rear delt/peck fly machine which often you need to wait for. Depending on who is in shift you may get the music absolutely blasting, which I'm not keen on and it looks like most people wear headphones anyway. I think you should be able to access via the barcode again after 6 hours rather than once a day. For instance, if I'm working an evening shift, I'd like to go before and go after, but when I go after (around 10pm) there is no one on duty so I can't get in despite paying for a 24/7 gym. This is probably my biggest complaint, and a big flaw with the current system. Also some vegan protein snacks in the vending machine would be nice if possible. Finally, a coat rack could be useful, for all the people who are happy to put their coat in a locker without a lock, which stops people who actually want to lock their stuff away from using the locker. I've put 4 stars, but if the evening access issue was fixed I would say it's probably 5, but if it remains I'll probably leave the gym. Please fix it!

Negative experience: Place is dirty and dusty. Not enough weights. So you have to walk around for ages till you find the illusive 2.5 kgs. Staff aren’t very friendly. Went back to THE GYM. Much friendly cleaner nicer brighter gym for sure

Negative experience: Super busy at around 7pm, and a few machines out of order. Decent but not worth the money unless they improve. Is it true that you can't access the gym more than once a day as stated in another review? I haven't tried yet. The gym advertises itself as 24/7, but the upstairs changing rooms are not open 24/7 (I think this also applies to the bathrooms as they're located inside the changing rooms). Bit of a shame as I'd hoped to be able to go at any time of day. Edit: JD says their accessible changing rooms are open 24/7 which is actually a lie. I tried to go in the other day at about 7pm and a member of staff told me off. He asked me who told me I could access them and was confused when I said that staff did in a Google review. They also have pin pads on so you can't just go use them, which is inaccessible and makes it especially difficult for people with hidden disabilities. :( They also say to press the green button to get let in a second time per day, that's really a badly designed system that doesn't work out of 6am-10pm hours. What if I want to train after 10pm after going to a class that morning? Why can't I get in for a second time? Honestly I really wanted to like this place but it's poorly designed, the staff can be quite rude, and it's not accessible.

Negative experience: Great gym, some of the staff are incredibly rude

Fantastic experience: I love JD gym Cheltenham. It’s my favourite gym so far, well kitted out, great equipment. Great atmosphere, spacious, staff are friendly and chatty. It’s clean and I look forward to coming here to workout. Thanks JD:)

Negative experience: shockingly loud music in changing room complained lots of times changing rooms are a place to wind down i don't want to have a rave in the sauna !!!

Negative experience: They keep cancelling jd burn classes though they still show on their timetable online ! Staff do not want to run any classes that is obvious when they do the jd burn. Gym is cold, showers are pathetic. Lots of improvements needed ‘ In response to your reply there has been jd classes cancelled and taken off the app last minute. Why would I du that if it was not the case ?

Fantastic experience: Good points: Great gym, lots of equipment, helpful staff! Love my time in the gym, relaxing atmosphere. Clean and friendly environment! Not so good points: not enough staff on the floor to attend to people who are trying to seek help, not enough parking spaces during busier times, not enough lockers for out of hours attendance. In general great gym if you go with a pure mission to work out .. and some little hiccups that the gym needs to work on. To JD Gyms staff: Thank you for being at great service and making things work for everyone!

Positive experience: The facilities are fantastic, but classes are often cancelled without notice leaving people hanging around. It tends to be the classes run by staff which makes them look pretty disorganised. It last happened today. After 10 minutes still nobody, and no apology from the duty manager!

Negative experience: I do not understand this gym at all.. advertised as being 24 hours yet the toilets and changing rooms are locked after 8pm on a evening so you can’t use them or shower after your workout.. I was told to put my bag into a locker and then when I did that and trained in the evening I was then told to take my bag out the locker because they close the changing rooms at 8pm which is it.? Do you want by bag in the locker or out of it.. there is a lot of plate focussed equipment here which is great appeals to the body building community. But you can’t have your bag with you by the equipment you are using so if you need your straps belt or chalk or any other bits you need for your session you have to go back and forth to your locker to get it.. Even though you are paying for a 24 hour gym you can only train once a day.. if you want to use the gym twice a day you have to tell them.. when are you restricted from being able to use a gym.. this gym is cold all of the time! Why am I paying a membership to train in a gym that is freezing cold all the time I have been training here since it opened and it’s just freezing! Equipment and the standard of equipment great.. but “the rules” is just absolutely ridiculous it’s like being at school.. it’s not a simple case of just going in training getting your session done and getting out! So time consuming

Negative experience: The WiFi don't work half the time, can't get in the gym cause the app plays up (you need to scan your phone to enter) a number code would be much better, never seems to be any staff around if you can't get out of the gym oh and if you wanna go twice a day it's our the question as you can only be allowed in once a day

Fantastic experience: Impressed

Positive experience: To coin a sporting analogy, this is a review of 'two halves': The good and the bad of this recently opened gym. THE GOOD. An exceptionally varied and wide array of good modern workout equipment, as is to be expected in a new gym. The ground floor has a nice open ambience, combining a high ceiling and good lighting in the main spacious workout area. Generally knowledgeable, helpful and engaging staff - Bartek, Berry and Joe, I'm looking at you guys. An easily accessible inner city location, for me anyway. THE BAD. The upper level (men's) changing rooms/sauna/showers are a sadly different story: The changing rooms are poorly designed and laid out, with limited access to the inadequately small lockers. Particularly so in busy times. Not sure that I'm enamoured with female cleaning staff wandering about in there either. The sauna is too small (four persons max), poorly designed and cheaply constructed. And often out of use or requiring recycling up again from being cold. The showers are pathetically poor in both design and execution. The small shower heads only produce a decreasing low-pressure 'dribble' for an average of 20 seconds before needing to be switched back on, again and again et al. The shower adjacent to the sauna, should be reset to permanently cold. Per the correct Finland/Russia/Iceland approach. As highlighted in other reviews this gym is not a genuinely 24x7 operation, with the changing rooms closed after circa 22:00 hrs. The car park is not exclusively for JD Gym use and is often maxed out during peak times. There appears to be a propensity of free weights (50%) over integrated resistance machines, e.g. only one abdominal crunch machine is available. Often with people waiting. In summary, this could be an excellent gym. But it needs to define its target audience more accurately and genuinely live up to its self-proclaimed billing of having 'luxury changing facilities ' etc. At the moment it's some way from doing that, and consequently, the overall experience is spoilt by the details. Meriting, only a 3-star rating in my judgment. .

Negative experience: My wife and I were very excited to join the gym when it first opened. The gym is jampacked with top rate equipment. Our induction session was a little underwhelming and the constant high volume musak is quite a distraction (maybe our age ), but we kept going despite the fact that the instructors almost never turned up on time for classes. The jury was out until last Sunday morning when we dragged ourselves along to the 0830 JD Burn session. No instructor then finally someone told us the instructor had “just left” and they had advertised for a replacement. The jury had delivered the verdict and we cancelled our memberships. Maybe it’s just teething problems but this gym is lacking grown up professional management who hold staff to account and ensure that classes always begin on time. After all, “promptness” is listed on the “gym etiquette “ board. It should apply to staff as well as customers. Maybe if things improve we will come back one say.

Negative experience: At least twice a week the staff don’t bother to turn the sauna on. The showers are filthy full Of hair, this gym was decent for a month or two but started to go down hill already.

Negative experience: Argumentative staff Not a 24hr gym false advertising Changing room floors dirty leaving black grime on bottom of feet after showers. Very busy, New year you won’t even be able to walk around in here.

Positive experience: Great experience so far, been going since it opened. Just a couple problems, please reduce music volume, some people want to listen to their own music, also I wish the lockerrooms were 24hrs.

Fantastic experience: Fantastic brand new gym, with more equipment than you can imagine, something for everyone. Friendly & super clean environment.

Negative experience: Changing rooms and studio are shut from 10pm weekdays and 8pm weekends. False advertising when you consider they claim to be 24hrs yet close half the facilities at those given times. Other 24hr gyms don’t do this. Staff are argumentative about bad reviews. Kit is tightly jammed together with some impossible to move around at peak times. You can only access the gym once a day with your QR code. They only have 1 pec fly machine and 1 leg extension machine in a gym this size and also after 24kg there is only 1 set of each weight terrible at peak times. Changing room floors seem dirty so I’d recommend walking around in sliders. Overall the gym needs many improvements but are only possible if they listen to paying customers.

Fantastic experience: The gym is huge! I park in Tesco it’s easy and free. The scan in is brilliant! No being locked between two doors, no pressing numbers, just scan and walk through. I’m claustrophobic so this was a relief for me compared to other 24 hours gyms. I love the fact that the changing rooms are closed for health and safety from 10 pm. The gym feels spacious and clean. There is so much equipment you’re not stood around waiting. I absolutely love the equipment. So easy to set. Everything is so new and modern I love it This is without a doubt the best gym in Cheltenham. I can’t believe the things people whinge about, but then we are having a subjective experience! So If you’re a miserable potato… You have exceeded expectations! Well done jd gyms

Fantastic experience: Great gym. Loads of brand new equipment. So far im really impressed.

Positive experience: New gym new experience, everything seems to work well, equipments available for what you need to keep fit.

Positive experience: It’s a great gym, with all the equipment you would need but it gets SO busy that you have to wait around to use the benches etc. Also, there should be more water fountains so you wouldn’t have to queue at peak times. Parking is a nightmare too, you have to use the Tesco next door.

Fantastic experience: Loved it! Lots of equipment, classes, plenty to do. I recommend it.

Negative experience: No staff available when you need them...

Negative experience: I do feel that it was rushed to open and the details are missing. Glad to see the self cleaning machine table- but for the corporation- maybe you can do better. You can’t buy water with your phone, the machine needs the actual card. You don’t come to the gym with your full purse. Showers- no pressure at all, tried 3 this morning glued myself to the wall to get some water and btw- no hangers behind the shower doors. There was a hoover left around this morning- just a tripping hazard Ohh yes and out of ALL the treadmills this morning, me and my friend could not get two together, but not because it was crowded, because there were lots out of order- power nap One of the treadmills was left on a hight position- people won’t do things if there is no info anywhere and staff did not seem bothered. Staff don’t say good morning even if I said it first. Just because is new, doesn’t mean better.

Fantastic experience: Great gym. Massive inside with everything you need and more. Staff are Great too Thanks team.

Fantastic experience: VerY impressive gym. VERY!

Negative experience: Very crowded can’t get on anything

Fantastic experience: This is a very good gym , nice staff nice members , the parking lot seems crowded but the Tesco car park is just next to the gym and you have 3 hours free. Good equipment , a bit crowded in the afternoon.

Negative experience: I left my headphones on Friday - is there a lost property as no phone number ? Also at 6 am lockers are full - why aren’t the upstairs ones open - not the best

Fantastic experience: Brilliant, lovely very pleased & welcoming

Positive experience: Almost the best gym in Cheltenham… Now let me start by saying this is indeed a lavishly well equipped gym. There’s every machine you could think of, 8 separate barbell benches including incline and decline variations, no less than 9 separate cable machines and even a sauna! Honestly there’s less equipment in the international space station. However, all of this fancy, sparkling brand new equipment does come with a price and not the one you’d usually expect… Normally of a gym this calibre you’d expect it to cost maybe £30 or even £40 a month but staggeringly it’s a very reasonable price £23 a month! So how can they price it so low? Well unfortunately after you’ve wrapped your head around the amount of equipment the cracks (in some cases literally) start to show. I’ll start by saying some of these issues aren’t necessarily JD Gym’s fault and other are absolutely their fault. So first things first the equipment. Now yes I admit I’ve spent most of this review blabbering on about how good it all is but that’s how they get you. I almost fell off one of the benches the other week as the seat wasn’t attached to the feet of the bench. It’s the same story with the incline barbell bench press, I was spotting a friend and almost toppled on top of him because the platform I was standing on had 2 bolts missing. That could’ve been a lengthy lawsuit! The air conditioning is laughable, it’s hotter than the centre of the sun anytime there’s no clouds outside. They honestly would’ve been better off employing a man to blow on people than try and fix their pitiful ventilation. Next up is the way you get in. There’s a QR code reader and that’s it which is fine when you’re of the modern era but what if you’re perhaps slightly older? There’s been plenty of older people waiting in the entrance because they’re unsure of how it works, what was wrong with a PIN code and what happens if you run out of battery or your phone is stolen? To top that you’re only allowed in once a day, so what if you want to train cardio in the morning and weights in the evening? Back to the drawing board with that one JD… Next up is the bathrooms. First of all whoever thought it was a good idea to have 3 taps and only one hand dryer was clearly incapable of maths. There’s constantly people spilling pre workout on the benches making it look like an episode of breaking bad and the sink has this slushy river of brown, washed out protein shakes that can only be described as having the same resemblance as an Indian street sewer. Not to mention if you actually want to use the changing rooms you can only do so between 6am and 10pm. So not very 24/7 if you don’t work a 9-5. It’s a bit like saying you can shop at Tescos 24/7 but the checkouts are closed at 10. Also the sauna shuts off every 6 hours so if the staff forget to keep it turned on you’re going to be stuck in a dark room with 5 sweaty blokes in their pants which if you ask me isn’t very relaxing and is certainly not a “luxury changing room” as they like to claim. What about the staff? Well it’s a mixed bag really. Some are very polite, helpful and friendly to talk to but clearly they changed the interviewer half way through the recruitment process as the rest of them are as pleasant to talk to as drug addict. Not only have there been a few examples of staff talking down to members like a headmaster talks down to a school boy but they waltz around like they’re gods amongst us mere men so if you stop them to ask a question they are often dismissive, rude and generally unpleasant to talk to. Unfortunately like most gyms of this calibre it does tend to attract some creepy people, you can always catch a few blokes staring at anything in shorts or leggings when they walk within 20 feet of the gym but in fairness that’s not entirely JD gyms fault. In conclusion if you can look past the changing rooms, poorly maintained equipment and the pathetic excuse of a car park then this is the right gym for you! There’s plenty of equipment and also plenty of nice, welcoming people. Just don’t talk to the staff…

Fantastic experience: Great gym