Bannatyne Health Club Folkestone

Negative experience: Thought I would do an update from my previous review below from four years ago. The gym has had some upgrades and refurbishment. The reception area has had a facelift and looks fresh and modern. The changing rooms and showers still very tired, outdated and poorly maintainThe soap is four years ago still not good. The gym area It’s okay, and the equipment is renewed every so many years or so, and is maintain by the company that provides it. The Aircon in the gym has finally been fixed. Sauna and Jacuzzi have finally been refurbished. The ceiling tiles are still disintegrating into the pool with a missing tile. So some improvement in four years. First review four years ago. 2019. I have been a member for quite a number of years and have seen the club deteriorate, with no sufficient maintenance and a lot of complimentary things removed. The sauna, if it has no essence it smells highly of effluent. There are always tiles missing from the seats and a strange slimy substance sitting on top of the grout, despite the manager saying it’s cleaned daily, obviously not to a good standard. Some of the tiles have been replaced, these are very visible to see as they are not colour matched. The tiles above the swimming pool are disintegrating into the pool as you swim. Some large tiles are even missing. The whole wet area is tired looking and in desperate need of repair and updating. The gym area has no sufficient air-conditioning. This used to work well and cool the area down, but hasn’t worked effectively and efficiently for years (it was always set to 16 degrees and worked well) When the weather starts to warm up it becomes unbearably hot and I’m unable to continue with my workout. ASHFORD Bannatyne’s had a new air con system and this works well and this is what Folkestone should feel like. My gym membership was raised without my knowledge. Only knew when the Direct debit increased via the bank statements. There was no email sent or in junk folder to this raise. The soap in the showers smells disgusting and irritates my skin. The changing rooms are in desperate need of an update. I have spoken to the manager of the gym with my raised concerns, I had a very generic response and he didn’t answer any of my questions directly. I emailed the area manager and at this time folkestone Bannatyne’s isn’t scheduled for any repairs or updates. I feel these conditions are substandard and unacceptable. The standard of the gym does not reflect in the price. The standards are more of a public sports centre, instead of a premier health club. Needless to say i’ve cancelled my subscription and joined a club where all the facilities are not in desperate need of repair and work officially.

Negative experience: The Bannatyne’s management team should be ashamed of the way this place is maintained led by Gavin. The Folkestone branch is out dated with broken equipment, water taps, showers left unfixed for months on end. Both the showers by the pool have been broken for months. Signs saying “we’re on it” are put on these items which then remain broken. Members are treated like fools. These are easy fixes with a plumbers shop minutes from the site. Fixing these items would keep members happy. It’s not difficult to make these things happen. The women’s changing facilities are appalling. Flooring in the showers coming up off the floor, rancid shower cubicles, generally very old and always cold in winter. The steam room permanently stinks of sewage due to the drain & rarely has adequate steam. When I raised a complaint with Gavin recently he was rude & patronising. The (lovely) staff all seem helpless to this man stating they can’t do anything about the issues.

Negative experience: First time going to this gym today 15/12/2024, both showers in the pool area only do freezing cold water, steam room also isn't working hence everyone being in the sauna, all the gym equipment needs refreshing.

Negative experience: The worst customer service I've ever come across

Positive experience: Good equipment and a great pool. Women's changing rooms are really run down especially the showers and in the last year only 2 of the 3 toilets are ever in use. It is also very popular and so it is hard sometimes to swim and classes can be impossible to book.

Fantastic experience: Great place with great staff and of course the best facilities in Folkestone.

Fantastic experience: Always good,nice vibe!

Negative experience: Greedy money orientated gym no one moneys except the money

Positive experience: Really happy with my Bannatynes gym membership. The staff are lovely, so friendly and supportive. Think the Gym closes too early(20:00) on a Saturday for paying £60+ monthly. Also think improvements could be made for the length of time to fix and/or repair equipment such as clothes dryer, certain equipment in the gym. I was a member here a few years ago, I wouldn’t say an awful lot has changed. Think pool area/ceiling is in need of a revamp - looking stained and tired. New steam room and sauna very nice!

Fantastic experience: After of how the pool closed in Radnor Park is the closest place with a pool and sauna to the Folkestone West. It is very clean and beautiful here after a recent renovation. The jacuzzi has strong jets. A subscription must be bought for at least six months.

Positive experience: Opening hours need extending here mon-sun.

Negative experience: I recently returned from vacation only to find a letter waiting for me, stating that I had been fined £100 for exceeding the parking time limit by 12 minutes at Bannatyne Fitness Gym in Folkestone. When I first became a member, the staff never mentioned the possibility of parking fines. Throughout the many years of my membership, this policy was never communicated to me. My experiences with Bannatyne have often been less than satisfactory, but this incident has compelled me to voice my frustrations. It is utterly unacceptable for a gym to treat its members this way. If I could give zero stars I would. Avoid this place.

Negative experience: Can’t do much at the gym cos 2/4 cable machines have been broken for weeks! Men’s changing rooms smell of fieces! FIX IT NOW! For £63 a month this is simply unacceptable

Positive experience: Recently joined, so far, so good. Very pleasant staff.

Positive experience: Great facilities. Friendly staff. Good mix of customers. Clean. Every you'd expect from a gym.

Fantastic experience: I can

Negative experience: Overpriced, oversubscribed yet under funded. ALWAYS something broken or out of action. Often dirty and with facilities no better than the council run leisure centres in the area. Take your £60+ per month and spend half on travelling to a decent club.

Fantastic experience: Joined a few months ago now and could not be happier with the support, organisation, efficiency of friendliness of the team at Folkestone club. Gym itself is well appointed and rarely so full you can’t rotate onto your preferred equipment within a minute or so. Not tried the classes yet but have been encouraged to do so by several folks who highly recommend them. Changing facilities are very tired and dated but kept spotlessly clean. Pool and sauna etc are great and again, spotlessly clean. By contrast, I went to Ashford the other week and was really disappointed. Quite snooty staff who weren’t prepared to have a conversation but ‘computer says no’… I’ve just converted my membership to long term and looking forward to stepping it up…

Fantastic experience: Great facility at a decent monthly price. Daughter highly recommends

Fantastic experience: Lovely staff. Perfect massage

Fantastic experience: Highly recommended, good choice of classes with great teaching staff. Spacious and well equipped gym. Really nice recent upgrade to the steam room and sauna facilities.

Fantastic experience: One of my friends had a 1-1 session with Luke and are now competing in the Olympia, couldn’t recommend him more for a raise. This is my friend in the photos.

Fantastic experience: Great sauna and steam refurb and brilliant staff

Fantastic experience: Bannatyne Folkestone is a lovely health club, with such lovely members.

Fantastic experience: Amazing facilities, great staff

Fantastic experience: Great facilities and knowledgeable staff

Positive experience: Had a lovely time, great facilities nice place and relaxing.

Fantastic experience: Amazing staff, inside is very dataed. The ceiling in the pool is falling away. Showers the floor is peeling up in the corner some mould showing. When gym equipment breaks take s up to a week to be fixed, I am a little disappointed as the price of the membership you would expect a little more. The only saving grace is that the staff at the Folkestone branch are a great group of people, being let down by the area managers.

Fantastic experience: It was great day

Fantastic experience: Kelly in the membership department was amazing, so knowledgable and really introduced me to the club so well. Thank you

Fantastic experience: I must admit I was dubious about spending the money on joining Bannatyne. We went for a tour where we were shown the facilities. Which are really good. Everything is kept clean and well maintained. The staff are always friendly and willing to help with any issues or queries that I might have.

Fantastic experience: Bannatyne health club in Folkestone has exceeded my expectations of what a health club should offer. This is the place you want to be at if you take your fitness journey seriously. Bannatyne has it all! • 20m swimming pool • Sauna and steam room • Hot tub • Full health assessments • Top quality equipment • Cafe bar • Amazing staff • Personal trainers And many more amazing benefits

Fantastic experience: Amazing Gym - great general manager and staff. Good vibes

Fantastic experience: Great Gym great equipment and facilities clean and tidy. Staff are not only helpful but kind and have a good consideration to meet your needs. Myself I suffer with anxiety and panic attacks i find this a great addition to help me through my recovery and to improve my health.

Positive experience: Needs more equipment, only one squat rack, no calf raise machine. It's a gym for maintaining while away on a trip not to make significant gains. The steam and dry sauna are a win

Negative experience: Facilities are really good and staff members are friendly. But when you want to demand a cancelation membership request they ask you, why your leaving n you give your reasoning n the staff reply w insolent attitude. AND also the staff tells you that when quitting they require a months notice. Something which was not explained to me about at all when I joined the gym. The bannatyne health club are making me pay for 2 months in order to end my membership when I have paid the 1 month last month ago. The staff told me I was going to receive a call if I really wish to cancel my membership but they didn't even call nor text me anything until next month when they told me I had due membership payment to make when I was told I only have to pay for 2 months ( which is outrage ) but they are making me pay 3 months in order to cancel it . The staff especially women are not giving full details and answers my inquiry in blunt voice . Tells me off bluntly how me living to a different location ( 7 miles) away " it is not even that far away, you need to be 10 miles away" like what on earth..? Bannatyne is good for gyming , swimming , class book and everything but the system of this bannatyne app is terrible. I cannot even book a class because of my membership been not updated on my bannatyne app. The jacuzzi gave me a urethra infection which led me to 2-3 week of constant of bleeding as I urine every 10 minutes. So many people on jacuzzi and cannot even go on it at all. The starbucks are bland n horrible taste - paying £2-3 waste of money. Be sure to join the gym when fully know the gym and never join this gym just because someone recommended you this gym. The staff do not go fully details of anything like the warning of giving 1 month notice. I was never told that at all or at start of my gyming month.

Fantastic experience: I'm a month in at folkestone bannantynes and I'm really impressed with the club. The people are lovely, teachers brilliant. The facilities and classes are great. Also I love their app and also the additional support you get for free along the way. If I had to be super picky I wish there was more variety of classes during lunch times. Thank you so much

Negative experience: mens shower always smells of urine mainly because toilets are outside changing rooms

Positive experience: Hardly any lady in a gym. Difficult to get your turn from lads who are using same equipment for 30min and more. Not managed really well.

Fantastic experience: Nice equipment

Fantastic experience: Facilities are really good and staff members are friendly. Particularly I would like to give a shoutout to one of their personal trainers, Georgie. If you are someone who is starting your fitness journey or even if you have been training for a while and would like to step up your game, training with G is the right choice. Whether if your goal is to be in shape or train harder, Georgie can help with both. I have been training with Georgie for over 3 months now and she has helped me with personalised programs and PT sessions, and I must say, I have been hitting milestone after milestone. I’ve gone from having a sedentary lifestyle to progressively lifting heavier and heavier weights that align with my goals. PT sessions have given me that boost to push myself beyond what I thought I would be able to do and for that I would highly recommend training with G.

Fantastic experience: 5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Positive experience: Reasonably good Gym, but if you’re a serious swimmer, you will struggle to get in the lane marked for fast swimmers as nearly always full of slow swimmers

Positive experience: Good place to do a bit of exercise with the added benefit of a swimming pool complete with jacuzzi and sauna and steam room.

Fantastic experience: I have been in a few clubs but Bannatyne Club is the best. Everything is clean, friendly staff, nice pool, classes with yoga were amazing .

Fantastic experience: Great time gym pool all cool

Negative experience: Awful and expensive. It is not a gym for the serious athlete. I tried to cancel my membership but they would not allow me because of the terms and conditions that I had signed. I ended up just leaving which was costly as I had an annual membership. I tried complaining to their HQ but it was difficult to make contact with anyone there. Never again.

Negative experience: Poor value for money. I was considering leaving and then the monthly cost increased which made my decision a lot easier. The gym is dated and equipment takes a long time to get fixed. The amount of actual equipment including ‘specialist’ equipment is poor and you struggle to get what you want done at peak times. When quitting they require a months notice. Something which is unacceptable during a cost of living crises.

Fantastic experience: Visited many gyms throughout my lifetime and Folkestone Bannatyne rates as one of the best. Friendly, clean and well maintained. They run a tight ship here!

Negative experience: Still trying to cancel my membership after suffering side effects from meningitis, disgusting service, just out to take as much money as possible

Fantastic experience: Lovely staff - they're always really helpful and nothing is ever too much trouble :) bannatyne is always really clean and tidy, the equipment is always clean and so are the changing rooms!

Negative experience: Wouldn't recommended very expensive for one time pass not worth even trying it, rip off

Negative experience: Sadly going downhill rapidly. Only 1 of 3 poolside showers working. Steam room not hot enough, jacuzzi cold. Where are all the mosaic tiles going to in the steam room? I belong to a lower tiered Bannatynes which is in far better condition and we still have wet kit bags. Come on - pull your socks up! You have paying members who are all saying the same. Save it before you go down the pan completely!

Positive experience: The website and gym are a very good standard.

Fantastic experience: Great gym, nice pool,sauna and steam room

Fantastic experience: Great ways to get fit. brilliant people to help n advise.sauna and or to finish excellent

Positive experience: Staff are friendly and welcoming. I have used the coffee shop, cafe, sports shop and the swimming pool, jacuzzi, sauna and steam room so far. I will add notes (if i can) for gym area and classes at later date once I have attended there - although initial visual appearance of gym area and numbers (at the times I have been there) looked reasonable to good with multiple machines of different types, space and availability on most it would seem. The pool was not crowded and lanes were marked off with sufficient space to swim at my own pace. Even when the aqua aerobics was on, there is still a lane to be able to do lengths. There is a water fountain and 2 loungers. There was room in each of the other areas, jacuzzi, steam and sauna rooms. The jacuzzi is quite large and spacious and the jets are good. I still haven't figured out what the gold butterfly type shape is, which appears to be stuck in the ceiling vent above it - but perhaps it is a sensor of some kind. They all appear to be cleaned regularly and I have seen water samples being taken. Changing rooms are spacious, with cubical to change in if you want to use them. Swim wear spin drier, hair driers. Tvs with news on. At the front desk, the coffee is Starbucks, from an automated machine, but is actually okay. There is a selection of sports wear, gym, and swim bits and pieces goggles, hats. Plus audio and phone accesories. Car park has always had spaces. There is an app which you can check how busy the site is. Book classes. You get a wristband, which allows access to the centre, is the key for your locker, plus if you want can be set to purchase goods at the front desk, this then affords a discount on some products. There are no sports halls for badminton, tennis, basketball, etc... but there are some rooms where classes can take place, including a dedicated spin room. There is a stand up sun room - can't comment, not used it. I feel this site would benefit from some area or option for spa type treatments, a hydro pool or similar, although they may be pushed to include this within the rooms and space they have. I am not sure if or what the 'busy' times are, the above is based on various visits at different times.

Positive experience: Love the staff, great and always helpful , the shame bit is ,,, showers , I know they need updating but why don't the cleaners wash the panels down ? brush detergent, hose down .

Negative experience: Dirty ..outdated.. showers filthy..always broken..had to queue the last few times.cold water in jacuzzi.. steam room smells...pool was ok..left with a months notice and still getting demands for money..payed up because of grief i was receiving..avoid..

Fantastic experience: Charge my EV in the club. Waitress /reception Shonna let me in the cafe area. I had a nice fresh orange juice and salad. Hope the club is good. Impressed by the welcome service, currently with David Lloyd and the spa card has not worked for over 2 weeks. Might look at Bannatyne in the future. Charged my car in Broadstairs as well, mangers were nice to talk.

Positive experience: Needs a spruce up. Changing rooms & showers looking tired. Training facilities good. Great swimming pool. Staff always cheerful

Positive experience: Quick response, very helpful, clean and pleasant

Fantastic experience: Nice club with very friendly staff and good level of cleaning and maintenance throughout. Wetside facilities are very adequate, showers in the males a bit out-dated and could do with a refurb. Tasty food and smoothies from the cafe bar.

Positive experience: Only used the Tesla charger that takes contactless credit cards

Positive experience: I come here every day to do an hour or so swimming. Lovely, clean facilities, and very helpful, polite and pleasant staff. My one bug bear is that the pool is not very often regulated, as in people swim wherever they like, which is as one of the much faster swimmers, very frustrating to have much slower people who should be using the slower lanes or the other half of the pool using the slower lanes, and just chatting at the the ends, often in pairs making it very difficult at times to maintain a decent speed and finish complete laps as people just stand at the ends. I understand people use to pool to relax, but for a person that uses the lanes to swim a full hour it makes it very difficult and awkward asking people to make room for proper swimmers.

Fantastic experience: Love it, great gym, classes and relax. Highly recommend :)

Fantastic experience: Signed up today big Thank you to Joseph very Helpful. Great to be back as always very clean. Great atmosphere

Fantastic experience: Chargers worked

Fantastic experience: Superb

Fantastic experience: Friendly staff, clean, covid safe.

Fantastic experience: Really nice pool and atmosphere. Staff care about your physical development and took the time to get to know me and my goals during sign up. Relatively new to this gym, but very happy with it so far.

Negative experience: what a piss poor place

Fantastic experience: Bannatyne health club folkestone

Fantastic experience: Love

Fantastic experience: Great gym best thing I've ever done for myself. Highly recommend for physical and mental health x

Negative experience: Obvious deterioration in the club since I was here 10 years ago. Food often not available in the cafe, ladies changing room still in need of refurb, as it was 10 years ago.

Positive experience: Enjoy my visits to Bannatynes. My only criticism is the showers. The whole of the ladies showers and changing rooms need refurbishment

Negative experience: Expensive, 2021 Same price with less facilities

Negative experience: Thing are constantly broken. Waaay overpriced

Negative experience: AC not working, lockers broken, are amongst some of the issues with Folkestone branch needs to address to make paying £55 a month anywhere near reasonable. Some staff absolute professionals, others not so.. I'd say the place is long past needing a refurbishment.

Positive experience: Poor catering at lunch time. Staff not very welcoming.

Fantastic experience: I don't think i did go here!

Fantastic experience: Luke the trainer is just the best.

Fantastic experience: Excellent all

Negative experience: overall . gym s good trainers are fanastic and patient . swimming pool is always cold. Jacuzzi is good and always hot. changing room clean but cold.

Fantastic experience: Receptionist staff brilliant, helpful and very cheerful even on Boxing Day!!

Fantastic experience: The Best Club

Positive experience: Great atmosphere. Staff are absolutely lovely. Management well known for dragging their heels when it comes to spending money on repairs. However, things are slowly being fixed. Not really worth the price tag, but the only health club of its type in the area, so it is a personal decision if you wish to pay over the odds or go somewhere else and miss out on the spa facilities.

Positive experience: Always in early the Jaczzi is always very hit and miss sometimes hot sometimes not sometime out of use very unreliable sadly. Friendly welcoming staff always happy to help. Showers could do with upgrade.

Fantastic experience: Great gym!

Positive experience: Gym, swim and cafe. Good staff but place is starting to look a little tired now, especially the showers

Fantastic experience: Very good and very clean!

Positive experience: Great gym but could be a lot better if repairs were made quicker

Fantastic experience: I would like to be able to use the pool for physio power walking for a few weeks (twice each week) but sadly I cannot see pool only availability

Positive experience: Great place to get fit

Negative experience: Changing rooms are dirty and tired. Showers rarely give out hot water. Complaints from various members are ignored around the state of the changing rooms. Very expensive especially when 24 hour gyms offer a much cheaper price and are newer and cleaner.

Positive experience: Great gym, a bit pricy but you get what you pay for. The gym equipment is top notch and it's all kept clean. Early evenings get really busy in both the gym and the pool but other than that it's a great place to work out. One of the main benefits is that the gym attendees tend to be older and less chavy that some of the other gyms in the area because of the price. The downstairs swimming pool and sauna is great for relaxing however the pool isn't really big enough for more than one or two people to do lengths at the same time since they'll be people on the other side chilling. The sauna and steam room are great however they're often out of order. And there's sometimes an awful smell in the steam room. The cafe serves small snacks and drinks.

Negative experience: Ripped off and told lies by Bannatynes. Do not sign up at any Bannatynes.

Positive experience: Good pool area and friendly staff, needs stricter rules on allowing kids in, 7-8 at a time is just to many.

Positive experience: Small but pleasant club. Duncan Bannatyne needs to invest a little as it's looking a bit tired around the edges. Great class booking system and friendly staff.