David Lloyd Norwich

Over-priced, always something broken, families/children everywhere, no compensation for the constantly broken facilities that we pay good money for.

I loved David Lloyd Norwich when I first joined over 2 years ago. However, it feels that the quality and care has gone downhill. It’s quite an expensive membership, for what you actually get (I pay for the platinum one).

I remember when the venue was a Virgin Active, it was basically the same, but around £35 cheaper!!! (In fact, it was much nicer when it was Virgin Active).

The sauna, steam room, hydrotherapy pool, changing rooms, toilets and more, always seem to be broken in one way or another.

If you do not have kids, like me, and are hoping for a more ‘adult only’ experience, this is definitely not the place to get a membership. There’s kids everywhere, and they seem to take priority in the club, even though they don’t have to pay a membership fee.

All-round, I’d say this club was okay, with elements that I love, like great classes, but I am considering leaving. (Of which, unfortunately you have to give 3 months notice!!)

Been a member for a few years now and the maintenance or lack of has got worse and worse. The changing rooms were refurbished and look no different, ignoring the showers and toilets which are pretty disgusting and smell horrible. Staff don’t keep the pool sides clean. I watched as two staff walked past an empty water bottle multiple times and a ball of tissue beside the indoor pool, just chatting and laughing, with no thought for the place. Some of the gym equipment is so tired and worn out, I wouldn’t touch it with gloves on. Such a poor quality leisure centre for the money. I just have to find one that is better, so I’ll be taking a tour of the others to see if they’re an better

Given the amount we pay for membership, the overall experience is somewhat disappointing. They've closed the outdoor pool and reduced their opening hours but there's no sign of a commensurate reduction in fees. There's usually one thing or other out of action. Ultimately it's not up to the standard you'd expect.

I absolutely love this club! The gym and facilities are amazing. But the clubs staff and communication between one another is another level of poor.

I have been a member of the club for years now, and had to freeze my membership due to my pregnancy, for this I had to send ‘proof of medical documents’, which is absolutely absurd - however I obliged and did so.

Now I am on maternity, I have a newborn baby and obviously haven’t got the time to go to the gym, let alone finding the childcare for him. But most importantly I am on statutory maternity pay (about £170 a week) and cannot afford a £70 a month gym membership. However I wasn’t allowed to ‘quit’, for another 3 months, even though I have been a member for years and am definitely out of any contract by now. I had to once again send proof of my financial changes!

Don’t join this gym unless you have a life long commitment to it, or miraculously know that in 3 months time you will want to leave, so you can give your notice before hand.

Additionally the monthly price increase annually, and I was never informed of this! It went up £7 a month this year.

Such a shame for such a lovely club!

They’re increasing contracts amount each month and not allowing you to leave the contract, I sent them a message on the thinking about leaving section about needing to leave due to the increase due to being outside contract and they didn’t even bother to reply as was over 10 days ago, the gym isn’t the worst but the service is worst I have ever seen.
Since this they have replied and lied, telling me they have responded when they have not since November, I have emailed 3 further times and still no reply, truly the worst gym and will never return.

Relaxing evening by pool and in the sauna. The only club where you don't need to book slot to use the sauna! The pool is hot 🔥. And sauna is 80°C. They have steam room too. This was my first time, but I loved it.

Don’t listen to these ‘local guide’ reviews. They are obviously paid to leave positive reviews.

Reduced opening times, shut outdoor pool, lack of staff to serve and increased membership fees. Leisure facilities constantly has issues and takes ages to repair.

When challenged I was told it was to save money and if I didn’t like it then I should leave. David Lloyd seem to think they are the only ones suffering with the cost of living crisis. Seems mental to make cuts on everything yet increase the fees for members.

I joined on £82 per month which has risen to £90+.

Bannatynes currently offer what David Lloyd can provide for about £52. I will be doing this once my membership finishes next month.

An ever aging facility with the same old problems.

TL;DR - Join Bannatyne's

I used to be a David Lloyds member about 5/6 years ago however I left due to the ever increasing prices and constant issues with the pool & changing facilities. I recently purchased a couple of 2 week trials with the hope that these issues would have been rectified and intention of rejoining the gym however, disappointingly, it’s the same old story.

I used to pay £40 a month however a membership is now over £80 a month. Despite the increase in the price, the issues remain the same.

Within the changing rooms there’s always toilets/showers that are out of order, the showers are grubby and in need of a good clean (along with the rest of the changing rooms), shower gel dispensers are rusty and in some cases have fallen off of the walls and sit on the floor, the ceiling tiles above the showers are a little mouldy and need to be replaced and the only urinal always seems to be leaking (which is lovely when walking barefoot).

Within the spa-pool, something is always broken. After speaking to a few members, it seems to be a running joke. For the last week or so the bubble seats haven’t worked, over the last couple of days the bubble beds have stopped working, one of the plastic tiles on the bubble bed is broken and sharp yet it remains open.. the pool was under temperature and last but not least, it’s super grubby. There’s lots of grit, hair bands and all sorts of other detritus making it’s way around the bottom of the pool and has been for the last 2 weeks. It’s in good need of a thorough clean.

The outdoor pool has been closed, not sure why. The jacuzzi has also been closed for the last week or so, the last time I was in it I was asked to leave it due to the chlorine levels being too low.

Generally the pool area is in need of a thorough clean and some maintenance. There’s missing tiles, lots of grime in the walkways and in steam room and it appears that someone, assumably a member of staff, has pelted various walls within the pool area with wet balls of blue roll/tissues. Currently the tissue/blue roll is on the clock, various walls and the rusty pipe work of the ancient aircon system.

I’ll add some photos to this review the next time I’m in the club to help bring this to life..

Back when the club was Virgin Active and a membership was £40 a month. The cost has since doubled but service provided is worse.

Join Bannatyne's instead.