4 /5 Ish: Joined at the start of Feb, and now that it’s April and I’ve been going 4–6 times a week, I feel like I have a lot to share.
The location is great, it’s only about an 8-minute walk from inside Stratford station, whether you go through Westfield or over the bridge. The elevator has worked 9 times out of 10 when I’ve needed it, which is a bonus.
Reception is a hit or miss. 80% of the time, the staff are friendly, greet you with a smile, and ask how you are, which I appreciate. But the rest of the time, I’ve had experiences where they don’t even acknowledge me, they look at me and go straight back to their phone or screen. It honestly feels unsettling, and I often have to brush off that energy because I don’t want it to impact my session.
I paid £110 for a 1 month subscription, a PT session, joining fee, and online access. What really annoyed me is finding out that anyone can just walk up to a trainer and get a free taster session, which counts toward a full PT session. That made my payment feel like a waste. I wish I had paid £80 for the membership alone.
Towels are usually easy to access, but during peak times they limit you to just one towel, which is frustrating. For a premium gym at this price point, I’d expect unlimited access, other gyms at a similar price allow it. Some staff are understanding and will give you two if you ask, but others are cold and strictly stick to the rule — its a mixed bag.
I’ve enjoyed the classes. The instructors really make or break the experience, and I’ve had some great ones:
Alison Vella: She’s brilliant, personable, attentive, and very clear in her instructions. She’s especially great in the Fundamentals classes, explaining form and movements better than anyone else I’ve encountered. Her energy is upbeat and fun, and I genuinely look forward to her sessions.
Gabriel Falola: Love his MetCon classes. He’s energetic, hands-on, and always goes out of his way to help with form, even in busy sessions. I’ve asked for help during class, and he always makes time to support and offer modifications. That kind of attention really stands out and makes you feel looked after.
Adam Wang: I attended his Bike & Beats class and thought he was fantastic. Very clear, motivating, and personable. He brings great energy to the room and sets a really lively tone for the session — you can tell he enjoys what he does.
The gym is actually really small for the number of members. During peak times, it’s nearly impossible to commit to a full workout plan. You either have to come at off-peak hours or feel pressured to rush your session. There are 8 weight sections, which sounds decent, but once you factor in crowding and the fact that classes often take place in the rig area (where 4 of the stations are), it becomes very limited. You can end up waiting a long time or having to cut parts of your workout short.
The lack of stretching space is genuinely worrying. I, and many others, often resort to using the stairs of the cardio section just to stretch — which is bizarre. You could use the space by the boxing ring, but it’s risky. You might get pushed by someone using a punch bag or asked to move by a PT. I haven’t used the boxing facilities myself yet, but they do look pretty good.
The changing room is spacious and cleanliness of the changing room is great — big credit to the cleaning staff who are friendly, and consistently present throughout the day. They clearly are doing a great job in maintaining the space throughout the gym.
However, the toiletries situation is not great. The body wash and shampoo desperately need an update. There’s no conditioner anymore, and frustratingly sometimes there’s no toiletries stocked; I now have to check inside each shower to make sure it’s stocked before committing — which shouldn’t be the case at a premium gym.
Overall; great instructors, central location, solid sauna, and high-quality classes. But for the price, lack of space during peak hours, poor stretching areas, inconsistent toiletries, limited towels, and confusing PT offerings is dissatisfactory.
