So every now and again I decide to try looking for a gym in the vain attempt that I might actually…read morego.. Then a friend recommended Spindles gym in the Britannia Hotel, Didsbury and for £18 a month, no joining fee and no contract I literally couldn't not do it. Now there's no excuse to not go. All it takes is a number 43 bus ride, get off at Withington Golf Course and you're there. They have a decent sized heated swimming pool, a spa, sauna and steam room! Also, because it's in a hotel it's usually quite quiet and not that many people use it during the day. The gym is decent enough - they describe it as fully equipped and it seems to be.. unfortunately all I really do is use the cross trainer and running machine so can't give a better description of everything else. It's a simple gym though so don't go expecting power plates or any new gizmos and gadgets. There are also Aerobic classes (included in the membership) which I have yet to try and an instructor can configure a programme for you should you need it. There's a beauty salon offering Facials, Manicures, Pedicures, Massages & Waxing which is open Wednesday to Friday every week.

Spindles Health and Leisure Club within the Britannia Hotel in West Didsbury, Manchester, should be…read morevery good, and with membership from only £20 per month it should be very good value indeed. However, the facilities are far from luxurious and would benefit from more regular and efficient cleaning and maintenance. There is a small swimming pool, jacuzzi, sauna and steam room as well as a small but well-fitted gym. Spindles also offers 3 acqua aerobics classes and one aerobics exercise class per week. There is also a hairdresser and beauty salon. The gym and pool area can get quite busy as the facilities are open to hotel guests and non members as well as those with membership packages. Children are allowed in the swimming pool at certain times (and can also become members) and there is a baby pool. It could be very good indeed but.... Although the classes are advertised on the board and promotional leaflets and are included in the membership, time and time again one or other of the classes is cancelled at short notice with no alternative provision. Only two members of staff are qualified to take the classes so when they are on holiday or off sick there are no classes available (and no refunds or reductions to members who pay by direct debit). Shortage of staff often means that there are problems with the showers etc too. Oh and I didn't mention the parking. Although there is a very big car park it is used for airport parking so at holidays times it can be a nightmare to get a parking space. Some areas of the car park are in a very dire condition and never seem to be maintained. Also, quite often there are pool closures or the sauna, steam room or jacuzzi is not available for use. Currently the management have decided to close the swimming pool for two hour intervals at peak times over a four week period as it has been booked out to a company training swimming instructors. This is infuriating to members as we have to continue paying although we are denied full use of the facilities. The management do not respond to any complaints. There is no contract as such, you pay monthly and can leave without prior notice by cancelling your direct debit. It is a no win situation for members as they have to put up with the inadequacies or vote with their feet and go elsewhere. On the positive side there are some very good members of staff who have worked at Spindles for a long time and when you can actually access the swimming pool, steam room etc it can be a very pleasant experience.

Withington 'Baths' is a seriously old school swimming pool - and has played host to entire…read moregenerations of South Mancunian schoolchildren who have been dragged their by their teachers in the pursuit of being taught how to swim. I should know, I was one of them (as was my Dad). I still have incredibly fond memories of the place - this huge Victorian monument to the pursuit of health, which towered over Withington belching out steam and chlorine fumes. The changing rooms smelt of feet, and our swimming teachers ranged from the disinterested to the downright sadistic. I still have nightmares about having to dive into the pool in my pyjamas in order to locate a plastic brick from its slimy depths. I still go to the baths occasionally for a quick swim, as well as to sweat out various accumulated impurities in its sauna. Not much has changed since my primary school days. The main tiled pool still looks slightly dilapidated, the lockers still look as though someone's been going around headbutting them, and the building still looks like an old Victorian sanitorium for the mentally disturbed. Yet, it still provides a vital service to the local Withington community, and is great value for money. And, it's nice to know that whilst Withington may be changing all the time, the baths is still a small moment of the past suspended in time - always different yet always the same.

If you're looking for an affordable place to keep fit, or just want to go casually for a swim/gym…read moresession/fitness class this place is ideal. I'm not one for being tied down. In gym contracts I mean. So, this centre is great for me. You can pay monthly for under 30 (student and Manchester city council workers have discounts) or just pay as you go. There'a pool, gym with free weights as well as cardio equipment, and a dance studio for classes. Everything you need really minus the swanky changing rooms and posh jacuzzi. But then, you're not being charged the Earth either!

The Mrs managed to catch this of me yesterday before my daily swim at Withington baths currently…read moretraining for iron man triathlon event. Can't tell you how far i've come.

I'm glad that when they built the gigantic Aquatics Centre they didn't let the smaller quainter…read moreleisure centres around town turn to wreck and ruin. Whilst the Aquatics Centre is certainly more suitable for serious swimming, it is nice to have convenient local pools such as Chorlton Leisure Centre and Withington Leisure Centre. Withington Leisure Centre is home to a 25m pool, a sauna, gym and they also hold aerobics and aqua aerobics classes. Memberships are available. My friend had a student membership which she said was really good value as long as you used the facilities a couple of times a week - it's about half the price you would pay at the swanky Virgin gym at Parrs Wood. It's a little bit cheaper for a swim here than at the AC but you have to be prepared to circumnavigate loitering biddies and splashing kids as there are no lanes, and there is free swimming for under 16s and over 65s! The best thing is that you don't need to worry about finding a pound coin for the locker and lugging your pile of clothes, shampoo, towel etc around (which inevitably leaves you with soggy knickers or your towel on the bottom of the pile when you get out!). You simply leave all of your belongings in one of the cubicles around the edge of the pool. I like that traditional touch, and although this pool isn't as pretty as Victoria Baths or as functional as the Aquatics Centre, it's a good place to swim if you live in Withington or Fallowfield.

The Armitage Centre is fine. As Rob says, its got all you need for a little fitness centre, and…read morethere aren't any others in the area. Though it is open to the public, I think you'd feel a little out of place as a non-student, though there are a few gym buffs who have been knocking about in there every day since I first went four years ago. The gym itself is very small, but has everything you need, and has TechnoGym equipment, which seems almost everywhere these days, probably because it's the best. Its exactly the same equipment they have at Virgin Active, and though much more squashed together, its less than half the price to use. Another great thing about the Armitage is the little 5-a-side football pitches, which you can either rent out or play on in a league. Leagues run every night of the week so its convenient for everyone. If it rains heavily its probably worth cancelling though, as the concrete pitches are not level and huge puddles make playing a serious health issue. They're the only pitches nearby except Power League, which is incredibly expensive. Nothing special but nothing wrong with it.

Manchester University's all in one sports centre! It welcomes a student's interest to sports but at…read morethe same time is open to all; the costs vary due to the same. It houses sports some basketball courts to massive football fields to the 5-a-side as well at the back. Not only this, but it caters as a conference and exhibition centre. Thus, it functions as a conventional sports centre during the university semesters and then as the exhibition centre, giving people a chance to always be a part of it. It also has Netball, hockey and volleyball courts giving you the chance to explore whatever interests you! It also has a fully equipped gym which attracts quite a lot of students with their student deals et al! Its a great all in one place to come work-out, play around and catch up with friends! I've always loved the fresh atmosphere it cities!

Probably the best personal trainer in Manchester. I started to train with Liam and he gave helpful…read moreadvice, motivation and a exercise plan which saw me lose weight and gain muscle definition within a month.

Extremely disappointed with the trainer Marco, it started off alright but he kept cancelling the…read moresessions and seemed struggled to manage his timings. At times I had to wait outside his private gym in cold as he was easily 5 to 10 minutes late and not very professional about it and showing little to no care attitude, once even he cancelled the session in the last minute when I was waiting out side his gym and waiting for him to let me in and only then I received a text that he is out of town and couldn't inform me before as his mobile battery was low, he told me this in a very unapologetic and as unprofessional way as possible. I had a plan for a holiday which i discussed with Marco from the very beginning and in the end he told me that lots of sessions has been missed because of my holiday plan. I still have two session left with him which I wanted to have a refund for as I was literally feeling not motivated because of Marco's work ethic and also there was no contract signed, and he told me that he wont refund any money, instead asked more money to book more sessions with him. Extremely unprofessional attitude overall and seemed unconcerned about the clients progress and motivation. If anyone wants to waste money and lose any motivation then definitely Marco is your guy.