Nuffield Health Wakefield Fitness & Wellbeing Centre

Negative experience: You know it’s bad when the people who work at the gym are reviewing it as 5 stars. Tells you everything you need to know. Been a member here for 8 years and considering leaving. Only good bit is the classes with Adele and some other external people. They are quite clearly choosing money making activities over members. Mondays and Tuesdays are absolutely rammed. Don’t even think about using the pool midweek after work. It’s one lane only until 6 (then there’s pool classes) because of swim lessons. Then the majority of the weekend is taken up with kids screaming at family sessions. The jacuzzi is cold, the other two never to be reopened. I think if you go between 8-3pm you’d probably have a nice experience or even 8pm-10pm but otherwise it’s busy. Equipment is broken, you can’t get onto some classes and facilities are just getting more and more reduced. They don’t even have tissues now in changing rooms or hand sanitizer dispensers, a hairdryer has been broken and left in situ for months and the hot water is constantly going cold. Everything is down to cost saving and money making and it looks like they’re choosing the money making schemes over quality for members. Hence the large chunk of pool time taken by kids lessons, kids classes in the studio and additional cost events. Not to mention the fact they reduced the classes down for the external trainers… y’know the ones people actually liked. If you’re thinking of joining don’t get yourself into a long contract.

Negative experience: If it wasn’t heavily discounted through work I wouldn’t have a membership here. I’ve kept my total fitness membership as it’s miles ahead of Nuffield in every aspect. The weights area is tiny, machines regularly out of order and massively overcrowded. Sauna tiny, reduced 3 hot tubs to one cold tub. And don’t even think about booking a class. Unless you’re up at dawn, every class is booked for about 3 weeks ahead, all the time! Each class must be 3 adults only at a time. This is not a premium gym and is 100% not worth the money they charge. There are far better options in Wakefield with much better equipment and in a much better condition.

Fantastic experience: Fantastic gym! I’ve been a member here for the last 18 months after previously trying 3 other gyms in the area. The facilities are good and all the staff are friendly and approachable .. great PTs too!

Positive experience: I enjoy coming to the gym. It's always really clean and the staff are never anything other than extremely pleasant, helpful and professional. I have PT sessions with Jenny Powell and I've seen my strength and body composition changing as promised by following her advice. The people are amazing but the place does feel a bit run down. There are always several machines broken (it's a small gym, this matters!) and the changing rooms could do with a refurb!

Fantastic experience: Great staff, always happy to help if need something or have a question about the equipment and really welcoming atmosphere. Has a good range of class available too.

Fantastic experience: Friendly and welcoming gym where all the staff are great and always happy to help. The gym is clean and well maintained providing a good atmosphere to train and community feel.

Fantastic experience: More welcoming than my old gym. Im retired and this is the perfect place for me. Clean and lovely staff and the cafe has great coffee.

Negative experience: Gym is way too busy and oversubscribed. Weights area way too small and not enough equipment. Other members on their phone for ages making calls on speaker hogging the equipment when they should be working out. Water fountains falling apart and producing a pathetic trickle of water meaning it takes a lifetime to fill a bottle. Lone children wandering around??? What a shambles.

Negative experience: Lovely staff and definitely the only thing good about the place. Please don’t waste your money unless you want tired, regularly broken equipment. Policies change constantly and often not communicated unless you’re on social media. Lots of recent reviews comment on swimming lessons, again they are clearly good and worth the money as the staff do an excellent job but if you don’t have kids, it’s extremely busy, reduced pool space and parents stood around in outdoor footwear and not politely asked to remove or cover them. There are far better options in the locality. Visit several gyms/wellbeing centres before settling for this overpriced option. Membership cancelled and moved on.

Negative experience: After 17 years as a non stop member there (originally as greens) - I’m so sad there is absolutely zero reward for loyalty. A second price increase in just nine months (legal maybe, but other companies don’t do this for a good reason) - all for a club that has plenty of regular issues on its kit. The decision makers in the club have changed down the years, and while staff - on the whole - are friendly enough on the shop floor, they have little to no skills in making customers feel valued. Genuinely sad to be leaving - but it’s just not worth the money anymore especially when other clubs of comparison are so much cheaper. I guess they’re only interested in new punters - and the garbled response to my termination email was nothing but corporate gibberish. That’s what 17 years of loyalty gets you, eh!

Negative experience: Equipment getting tired. Membership prices keep increasing with no improvements made to justify it.

Fantastic experience: I joined for swimming lessons with Alex after 30 years of having stayed away after a drowning incident as a child. Alex went far beyond what I’d expect from an instructor; he was genuinely empathetic, actively listened and allowed me to lead our way forward. His humour and care is greatly appreciated. Highly recommended, other staff were always friendly and there was a genuine family atmosphere whenever I was there.

Fantastic experience: Fantastic staff and facilities. Calm and welcoming gym, better all round club feel compared others in the area. Everything you need from a gym plus a nice pool and lovely cafe.

Fantastic experience: Great gym, visited for the first time last week and joined, had everything I needed, good free weights area, swimming pool, sauna and steam room to top it off, brilliant!

Fantastic experience: Lovely staff here at Nuffield. Two of my grandchildren have swimming lessons here and I would highly recommend Jenna and Leanne, they have been amazing. I enjoy going for a swim and a coffee in the fantastic cafe afterwards, the new manager in the cafe is great!!

Fantastic experience: Staff are fantastic here. I mainly go for the swimming pool with my kids, and they love it. There are plenty of floaties and toys on the side for the little ones and it is always clean and tidy. Afterwards we love refuelling in the cafe which is lovely and open - perfect for my kids who can become quite anxious in similar spaces, but they actively ask to come in here. There are plenty of food options recently in the cafe, including healthy smoothies if you are that way inclined. Overall, it is always a positive experience and my kids love coming here.

Fantastic experience: Excellent staff who are informative helpful

Negative experience: I have read through the recent review before this and I think I am going to be repeating the same praise for the staff but the major issues of the gym's facilities. Please do not be fooled by the rating of 3.8 out 5, the majority of high ratings are from years back or recent ones for comments on the staffing excellence. Like myself, 1 to 2 stars for this gym is the norm for reviews that comment on the gym facilities. So here is my review, and at the time of writing this I am still a member at the gym but looking elsewhere after being with the gym for close to 5 years. Staff are really great and welcoming but the facilities are really bad now. The equipment variety in the gym is shameful compared to other gyms which are significantly cheaper around the area (PureGym, The Gym Group). Not just the variety of equipment is shocking but also the amount of equipment available in the weights room with targeted machines being limited to one and about 4 bars to be shared across everyone which is just a disaster at busy periods. When you go to the equipment, peripherals for equipment are nowhere to be found and so you have to make do with what is there. I think it is also worth to note that there is always broken down equipment, and when I look at the equipment Bannatynes has, which I would say is a competitor, it really is laughable. They have equipment that is so much more advanced than Nuffield. For the price you pay at Nuffield, I really do expect more from them and it just seems so run down now it seems a con. Prices have gone up massively (understandable with inflation) but they are taking facilities away which actually justify the price point such as the jacuzzis (used to be 3 at different temperatures but now down to 1 which is absolutely freezing to the point it is just the opposite of relaxing.). I look forward to looking at Bannatyne's now which I think a lot of people are doing now as I have seen that Nuffield seems more quieter lately with people moving. I can see from Bannatyne's that they have facilities that look much better, it looks modernised and more what I would expect when paying £50 per month for a membership. If I had to put a pricetag on Nuffield based on the facilities they have, I would struggle to put it close to £25 per month based on the limited and outdated equipment alongside the reduction in leisure facilities. I had to put a star down to write this review which I would say goes to the staff who I rate 10 out of 10, but the gym as a whole is close to an embarrassment with the pricetag associated with a luxury gym.

Positive experience: Recently rejoined, used to be a member when it was Greens. Thought I would treat myself to the advertised 'Cream Tea Wimbledon Special' and watch the ladies final and make an 'experience' of it. Terrible service, served by what seemed a grumpy teenager who didn't know what the special included. Poor food handling/ hygiene. So disappointed. Would expect better considering membership fee. Hope no tummy upset tonight! More health and safety, and customer service/product training required! Coffee shop area cold and disappointing. Fitness classes are good with great instructors.

Negative experience: How dare you discriminate against members based on their political views.

Fantastic experience: Great gym , friendly, clean good people

Positive experience: We have been visiting the area for a week and as we have membership with Nuffield Health in the region we have been able to make use of the Wakefield gym. First impressions are very good, nice welcoming staff who helped us and introduced the gym, lovely clean gym with a lovely coffee shop. Changing rooms are spotless with a nice feel to it. All equipment is good and more modern than our "home" gym. The pool and sauna, steam and spa facilities are excellent and are better than we are used to - all in all a really nice place to visit. The only negative comment I would have is that it seems almost impossible to book a class...is it a closed shop or just a lack of studio space? Either way it is something that needs to be addressed if new members are to be encouraged

Negative experience: Two stars only for the colleagues that work there. The facilities are now shabby and not getting fixed. There are things being removed from access and yet the prices keep rising and above inflation amounts. Enough is enough and time to try a council gym instead. Make that one star. Exceptional rude email from staff member who then proceeded to cancel my membership!!

Fantastic experience: Great place lovely staff and excellent coffee

Negative experience: Aravindan Ramaswamy: The worst customer experience I have ever seen!! My mom passed away in September and I had been to india for the funeral and returned after a month. Did not use the gym for the whole month of October and I requested them to adjust the money I paid for the following month. The reply was I should have called them before going to mother’s funeral and since I did not do that they can’t help. Cancelled my membership straight away.

Fantastic experience: Really enjoy the classes at Nuffield Wakefield, there is a good mix of what you can do and at good times. The staff are always super friendly and welcoming to you and always happy to help if you need any help in the gym. The facilities are always lovely and clean and it just feels like a nice place to go and do something for yourself whether it’s gym, a class or just a bit of a chill in the sauna.

Fantastic experience: Took my daughter swimming here for the first time. Very friendly and helpful staff. Spotless pool and changing area too. Will definitely return.

Negative experience: Don't bother joining. There are alternative gyms in Wakefield, including with a pool The unhelpful attitude of staff is unacceptable Recent parking fees and £10 admin fees are disgusting. The, not my job attitude is not what I'd expect

Negative experience: What a joke this gym as become closing the jacuzzi s to save money then paying a stupid firm to take photographs of our cars entering and leaving .who the he'll wants to be under pressure to key your registration in when entering. And if you don't you get a threatening letter and a 100 pound fine ? What about old people who's memory is not the best ? Get a life nuffield your ruining the gym and the atmosphere ask anyone who walks through your doors no respect for the members

Fantastic experience: Joined this gym 2 weeks ago and it's one of the best decisions I've made. People are lovely there and friendly. Meeting new people everyday, the staff are always there to help too. Keep up the good work guys and I'll keep coming back pretty much every day.

Negative experience: Having the jacuzzi’s turned off to save costs is ridiculous considering the cost of membership in comparison to other places. The jacuzzi was a large reason for attending given the benefits after working out.

Negative experience: shocking customer service

Fantastic experience: Great atmosphere and staff

Negative experience: Been at this gym 22 years since it opened. It has been going down hill year by year as you can see from the reviews and any feedback, from the endless surveys they send out, is paid lip service. JACUZZIS CLOSED FOR 6 MONTHS WITHOUT CONSULTATION FROM OCT 2022 WITHOUT NOTICE AND WITHOUT ANY REFUNDS OFFERED DESPITE A MATERIAL CHANGE IN SERVICES. This has been done so the club can save money on energy although they they pass it off as a benefit by telling members it allows us to keep using the sauna and steam. Lucky us! Here are the pros and cons Pros: slighlty longer open hours than Bannatynes or Total Fitness which are the 2 main competitors. If those were changed or a new gym like David Lloyd moved to this area Nuffield would have few members left. Cons: No investment for years. In 22 years its had 1 refit and the last one was 2nd hand machines.the machines are tired and 10 years overdue a refit. Its run by Nuffield which is a health company and they are too big to listen or make swift changes that benefit the members. If saunas or steam rooms break then they can take weeks and often months to get fixed. Any complaints the local manager just blames head office "therefore there is nothing they can do" and thats a standard reply for 5 years. Head office never reply or take any notice of any feedback in all the years Nuffield have run it. They make discount offers all the time of up to 50% off so you can easily end up paying twice what a new member pays and this is probably why the club has no money to run or improve its services so it justs keeps cutting services like turning off the hot jacuzzi spas and expecting members to put up with it. All these things are basic simple and easy to fix. When it was Greens gym and a much smaller operation it ran far far better with local members interests at heart instead of a big monopoly like Nuffield making crazy decisions from afar like shutting spas to save energy without offering any discounts to members for such a drop in services.

Negative experience: Tried to join the gym last night but Nuffield apparently don’t accept Starling Bank as a recognised payment, even tho Starling Bank is a UK recognised challenger bank with a banking licence since 2017. I also got told the discounted membership ended midnight last night (13th May). Just looked on the website and it’s actually till the 30th May! I was told someone will contact me first thing to discuss what options are available so I can join. Still no call so guess I’ll go elsewhere. Clearly my custom isn’t needed. From seeing the other reviews of the old gym equipment and sauna/steam room being closed weeks at a time then I’d say it’s a lucky escape as I’m not paying for something I can’t use or feel confident the equipment will work.

Negative experience: Poor Gym that are now charging a high fee. Machines are mainly broken and very old - some of the cardio machines are like going back to the 90's. The nuffield tier system is to blame as the higher tier gyms recieve the best equipment and the the old tat is passed onto this gym - bear I mind the membership is now £62 a month here though. No idea what planet these people are on to treat their loyal customers this way. The staff are OK but have no power to improve the situation - I feel sorry for them.

Negative experience: Only good fore swimming gym is not good equipment need more equipment you pay 50 a months for nothing

Fantastic experience: Lovely staff relaxing swim

Negative experience: I’ve rang 2 times to enquire about swimming lessons, told I’d get call back which never happens, disappointed will book elsewhere

Fantastic experience: Excellent facilities and very friendly staff

Fantastic experience: I enjoyed the zumba gold class this morning, first time at zumba. Finished off with a jacuzzi.

Fantastic experience: Great place,lots of equipment and a pool

Fantastic experience: It was my 1st session back on the day it reopened... It was outdoors and it was fab... Just time to adapt and allow the process of trial and error... Thanks Nuffield for all your efforts to get us back in.

Negative experience: Posh gym ...not very big over priced and dont seem bothered if you join or not

Positive experience: Well located, lots of equipment and classes

Negative experience: Abrupt, almost cold service in the cafe. Could be a great venue but this sadly ruins the experience.

Fantastic experience: My next home

Positive experience: This gym is very good however u need more up to date equipment in weights. Also the new timings are terrivle now for weekends and many people would agree i love this gym but its timings on weekends need fixing asap

Fantastic experience: Great gym

Negative experience: Nuffield have little or no respect for members. They have a poor or non existence maintainance strategy. They shut the sauna and steam rooms for weeks, due to lack of replacement parts. Their air conditioning system grills in the swimmimg pool are clogged in dirt, if you complain the complaints are vetted by the local manager. This club is part of a health organisation, which should have People’s health as a paramount. Not if you look around, it’s grim. I have complained directly to the ops director at Nuffield Group, they just pay lip service. Banatynes is a good option if you live near to J41, M1. At the moment Nuffield the monopoly and they know it. They have little respect for members. Maybe one day they’ll listen to their customers, any other commercial organisation would go out of business, based on service.

Fantastic experience: We were looking for a good gym today to join, we visited Bannatyne and total fitness, have to say Nuffield came out best, just feels nice and clean. Bannatyne looks really tired, but most importantly not clean with cob webs in stairways and changing rooms with dirty floors, Total fitness came second, seems pleasant, with the best swimming pools.

Fantastic experience: Makes total fitness look like The Bronx!! Great staff and most of all polite friendly members!! Highly recommend!!

Positive experience: I was disappointed with the treadmills, they were dirty and I had to try four before I found one where the headphone socket worked properly.