It's new! It's shiny! It's mega-cheap!…read more
Just come out of my first session at this brand spanking new gym in Leeds, part of the Merrion Market redevelopment and the regeneration of what's become known as the 'Arena Quarter'.
I had reservations about signing up for a budget gym, as my main motivation getting me through a workout in the past has been a lovely swim at the end, but as it goes I didn't miss it that much in the end.
But enough about me...
The gym is lovely and airy and the equipment is all well spaced out. Spread over two floors, the ground floor has tons of cardio equipment - cross trainers, bikes, rowing machines, treadmills. There's even a handful of swanky cross trainers that have an incline feature, and a couple of stair machines that look like mini escalators! As well as all the cardio machines, there are a smattering of weights machines, a couple of powerplates, and a rope pulling machine!
Moving downstairs there's a raised area with free weights, more cardio machines, an area with a load of bikes set up for spin classes, a studio area for classes and a large mirrored area for people to use kettlebells, gym balls and other bits and bobs.
I haven't done a class yet, but I'm booked in for a step class on Thursday morning and Intro to Kettlebells on Saturday - eek! The class timetable looks ok, there are around 40 classes per week, running in the mornings, lunchtimes and evenings. My only gripe is that the evening classes don't start until after 5pm, and as someone who finishes work at 4pm and has kids to see before bedtime, I'd prefer a few starting 4-4.30pm.
Like most budget gyms, this one is open 24 hours, 7 days a week, with staff on site from 6am until 10pm. The front door and the changing rooms are accessed using the PIN number they give you when you join. I went at 6.15am this morning for a workout before work and it was nice and quiet at that time, although by the time I went to shower and change at 7.15 the changing rooms were getting pretty busy. I expect, as it's so central, that 7-9, 12-2 and 4-7 will likely be fairly high-traffic times (my pal Ally who also went there this morning just after me said she had to queue for the showers at 8am), especially at the moment as it's newly opened and people are in the determined just-signed-up phase!
Downsides for me: obviously the lack of a pool is a huge negative, but not going to deduct stars for that as it's a budget gym. Where this gym loses a star from me is the complete absence of water fountains! Staying hydrated is SO important when you're working out, so to not supply with free water is a massive black mark for me. Luckily I took a bottle of water along with me anyway this morning, must remember this every time! Another small mini gripe is a lack of tv channels on the screens around the place, there's just a standard 'Pure Gym TV' type channel - other gyms I've been members of in the past have had headphone jacks in the machines so you can choose which channel you'd like to watch and listen to the audio.
However, value for money wise, it's difficult to knock. I signed up with the 'early bird' offer so I'm paying £10.99 p/month and the joining fee was £15. Standard price is £17.99 p/month with a £25 joining fee. Given that that is a third of the price I was previously paying at my 'premium' gym, I think it's excellent value. With family commitments it's pretty hard for me to make time for the gym, so even if I only end up going once a week, for that price it's not like I'm just throwing money away.
Ok that's it from me for now, will update again with more info and some photos after I've done a class or two!
