There seems to be money invested in new pilates equipment. Just a shame the showers couldn't have been updated. They look like they were installed many decades ago and the tiles are mouldy and unpleasant to view. Everything looks tired and old in this area. The spa area is also rather poor. Tiny steam room and Jacuzzis not much bigger than the size of a bath. Also the car park is too full most of the time as well as the gym. Their weekend closing times are 7pm which seems far to early in comparison to other clubs.There are better places available for far less. The club also doesn't seem to operate a fair pricing for all policy. So many members pay different rates depending on age, job, health insurance or when they joined. New members can be paying twice as much as some members who joined years ago. The staff are friendly and try hard though. But the ones working at their head office are not and unfortunately you have to speak to them if you phone, as they no longer have a direct calling to your local club available read more

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Black mould growing in the mens showers but it appears nothing has been done to clean it in the last year of my membership. I've been paying £69.99 / month for this, but within 3 days of one missed payment they're already threatening a £50 admin charge and 3rd party debt collection... Shocking way to treat a loyal customer. Steer clear, they're only interested in taking your money. read more

I was at Virgin Active Chelmsford for six years and recently moved to London. As I left after my last workout I explained that It would be my last workout and, not having terminated my contract asked if all I had to do was stop my direct debit with the bank. The person on reception said yes so I did as instructed. I was phoned this morning by my mother who told me that a rude letter from them has just come to her house saying I have to restart my debit as I owe them a months money. I called the gym and they told me that I have to tell them in writing before the middle of the month that I am leaving. I asked why the reception didn't tell me this and let me believe that I could just cancel and they seemed to have lost interest in the conversation, I don't think they believed me, or cared. I said that they could see if they checked their system that I hadn't entered the club since early February but they just kept repeating the same lines over and over. I just wrote to the membership team to cancel and they didn't seem to have any customer service skills just firing off some kind of pre written e-mail about the rules about cancellation and saying they still wouldn't stop it until they saw evidence of the last payment being made. Be careful if you join this unprofessional money grabbing gym because they don't give service with a smile. You would have thought that my last months fees were coming out of their wages from the way they were trying to squeeze them out of me. they are also overpriced these days. Avoid read more

This costs a fair amount per month but you get what you pay for. The gym area is top of the range and always clean. It does get busy at peak times though. The swimming pool is small but good, and there is a jacuzzi, sauna and steam room to relax in too. The classes are good - there is a wide range to choose from, and all the instructors seem friendly. read more

I love Virgin Active. Its not the cheapest of gyms and they`re not the dearest. Their swimming pool is gorgeous and the temperature of the water is lovely and warm. It has up to date gym equipment. Best bit for me is the lounge area it has a costa coffee. I mustn`t forget to mention the staff - they are brilliant and very welcoming. I highly recommend Virgin Active! read more

I was a member at this health club when it was Esporta, over 12 years ago before Virgin took over. I have been very happy there, both with the facilities and the friendly and helpful staff and made a lot of friends with over the years. However, I have now done a complete about turn. Since January of this year Virgin head office has made it plain that they no longer wish to cater for older people, adult swimtime midday has been completely scrapped and it is now chaos (I have been told the concentration is now on families which I can understand, but surely one hour midday for adult swimtime would not have been too much to ask). I am very upset about the way loyal members have been treated, we were not informed of the changes, apparently there was a notice somewhere but I didn't see it. I went for my swim one day and the pool was heaving with children, big floats etc., not to mention the extra lane that had been included to make way for child swim lessons. This is a very small pool, there is no way it is big enough for three lanes and family swimtime. I have always been happy with the club but am now feeling disgusted at the way some of the members have been treated. I wrote a lengthy letter to head office and have not been afforded the courtesy of a reply. I have now left Virgin Chelmsford as I felt there was no alternative. My membership was obviously no longer important. Yes, adults only can swim before 9 a.m. and after 7 p.m., but mostly my free time is during the daytime, as with a lot of other people. Everyone should be accommodated, I definitely do not want to swim early morning nor in the evenings. A number of older people have left the club, apart from anything else it is not nice to be treated this way. Sorry Virgin, I was happy for a number of years but this latest action is disgusting. Client care needs to be addressed. read more