Overview
I made a minor hiccup with Bristol David Lloyd, I am starting this review with a minor bug of mine which is gym chains which do not have consistent opening times. I get the value in different times for different areas but 6:30 is a silly time to open wouldn’t you say?

Anyway, set just outside the city of Bristol lies one of their 2 David Lloyd gyms, near a park and ride with ample parking themselves this has to be one of the most complete feeling David Lloyd gyms I have been in with a high level of finish, top quality kit and a huge complex of facilities.

Once I was in the gym (after 6:30), I found a slightly confusing layout to get to the changing rooms having to make my way past the tennis courts and through some of the cardio area. The cardio area itself is spread around a central swimming pool on the ground floor but this appeared to be totally sealed off which was nice to not have the smell of chlorine or the rust that tends to result from an open pool.
The weights area was upstairs above the changing area and it was totally amazing, spread around in a large square/U shape to the edges it boasted a fantastic range of equipment including squat racks (multiple) benches and a  weird bench which moved the rack forward and back to allow you to unrack more directly over your chest (amazing!).

The weights area is split between dumbbells and benches in one section, moving through a more open centre with a  Synergy 360 you have one of the odd tracking synergy machines,  there is then an area with a cable machine in the middle edged by the squat racks and a smaller selection of plate press machines than I have seen else where but still very decent. I would say my only complaint with this is that there weren't a huge number of plates and that the kit that used them was very spread out so finding them was quite a mission at times.

The cable kit is downstairs and is a fantastic selection of very new kit, with two peck decks along with a nice single arm chest press machine, leg curls and more I was very happy and found this not heavily used. The only pain here being that it was downstairs with the rest of the free weights being upstairs my super sets were a little messed up. But for the range and quantity of equipment I was quite happy.

The cardio equipment was then spread downstairs and some upstairs to one side which was a little odd but did include stair masters which always make me happy. This is another David Lloyd where they have every odd variety of cardio machine I could think of from jazzy bikes with computers attached to the single leg treadmill machines that terrify me it was pretty impressive.
The rest of the downstairs area went on to have more cardio equipment, stretching and boxing areas and a load of functional kit including resistance hack squat and other machines which I didn’t have a chance to try. This gym really is big and has a load of "stuff", not quite sure that it wouldn't add more value to swap some of it out for some more simple and functional equipment like a weight sled but if you are into some of these machines it is great.

The gym as ever being a David Lloyd has wifi which was pretty good, the parking is huge and well laid out, the gym felt clean and the changing rooms were really nice and fresh.

The wider facilities are quite rich at this David Lloyd with the full range of squash, tennis and other wonders that cost extras if you want them. 

The final note which is quite a fun one, the lighting in the weights area was on point. With spot lights only in a generally poor lit area, it was perfect for a load of gym selfies and actually was very motivating as it makes you look good! I do think there is something to seeing yourself look good as you train and the lighting here is amazing for it (bonus marks right there!

All up a really nice David Lloyd next to a park and ride to get into Bristol if you work there, couldn’t see a good reason aside from price as ever to not make this your choice of gym!

How busy?

Training first thing wasn't too bad but busier than other  David Lloyds but given that it opens a bit later and I queued with people to get in I was not too surprised

Equipment
Free weights area
3 squat racks (2 with deadlift platforms)
1 flat bench, 1 incline, 1 decline
4 free benches
Dumbells up to 50kg
Set of plate machines including
Chest
Row
Shoulder press
Cable machines including
Low row
Cable cross over



Facilities
Indoor Tennis courts
Outdoor Tennis courts
Badminton courts
Squash courts
Indoor Pool
Heated Outdoor Pool
Café
Steam room/sauna
Changing/showers
Studios (inc spin)
Free weights area
Weights machines
Cable machines
Cardio area
Synergy 360

Pricing
As ever David Lloyd can vary by location on where your base is, recently talking to a friend they got a starting rate of
£90 for standard
£70 per person for couples
I have as other reviews had between £60-90 as the range and worth a haggle
Remember there is a premium over this for tennis/squash etc

Other bits
It opens at 6:30 not 6, though the park and ride is great for running laps if you are early
Plenty of parking
Wifi as ever


https://www.davidlloyd.co.uk/clubs/bristol-long-ashton​

https://www.facebook.com/DavidLloydBristolLongAshton/

Overview
Nestled in the centre of Stevenage is the Fit4Life gym, within walking distance of most of the car parks, an easy drive from quite a few of the outer business parks this gym is sat in a great location and offers everything you could really need to get going and have a great session!

The gym itself is a  good size, set up on a second floor within a unit the gym is then split out over 3 levels (ish) in 3 directions, with a main weights floor area with cable machines, free weights and plate machines. A separate cardio area which as ever is my personal preference in gyms, an upper studio containing boxing kit and a further separate open studio for anyone to use.

The space itself feels open and the gym has a fantastically weird vibe I have to say, somewhere between a spit and sawdust gym and a modern 24 hour gym. The kit is a blend of ages across the board as well as a slight variable quality but the music is loud, on point and the atmosphere one that almost has a buzz of fun and competitive yet like a family. I really liked the buzz here.

The weights area occupying the main area as you come in has a distinct split between the cable machines at the back which have a full range of what you would expect, the gym isnt a huge factory gym so don't expect multiple of any bits of kit but one of each is enough given the floor space and they all appear to be well maintained no split covers or anything.
Moving into the free weights you have a cage and a smith machine, no deadlift pad and not sure given the floor you are on if this would be frowned upon and you might have to queue to squat, a second rack wouldn’t go amiss.
The dumbells go up to 50kg with one set of each so again all you need, with around 3 free benches and an incline, decline and flat barbell bench setup ready to go you really do have one of each that you could wish for here.

Plate loaded machines were a bit more sparse but again with shoulder press, chest press and leg press  there isn't a lot more to really ask for here and I was very happy .

The cardio kit is up in a separate room and there is plenty of it, with the very standard affair of running, rowing, bikes and elliptical machines. The only complaint I have here is that the TV situation is quite sparse and as a guest I didn't have access to wifi (there was some not sure if its for members or just staff) which would have made a long grinding cardio session very dull.

The rest of the gym pretty open feeling which I liked the studio when not in use had its doors open and people were in and out doing kettle bell swings which was good as it gave more space in the other areas. The boxing area upstairs was pretty cool and open again for people to nip up and have a go.


The changing rooms were a little dated in some ways with the wood being a bit tired but they are there which is better than 24 hour gyms that have none and it felt clean enough.

Overall the gym is a gym, it has the buzz of a gym and delivers what a gym should, if you couldn’t tell I was quite enchanted with my visit to find such a standard and yet robust offering of a gym which was accessible to all people from beginners to focused lifters! (this isn't a powerlifter gym guys to be clear and it doesn’t try to be it really is just a gym for the people!)

With signs like "tired of being fat and ugly? Just be ugly!" I don’t know how you can't have fun at a place like this, I didn't speak to many other people but if the clients match the theme it should be a great place to go.

How busy?
I would say here we come to the downside, I arrived at around 10 and there were a few people here even then during a week day
At 4pm when I headed off the place was pretty busy, not heaving but this is still pretty early and given the number of certain bits of kit I could see this place getting a bit sweaty and busy, definitely worth checking out at the time you want to use it before singing any contracts.

Equipment
Free weights area
1 squat racks (0 with deadlift platforms)
1 flat bench, 1 incline, 1 decline
3 free benches
Dumbells up to 50kg
Set of plate machines including  
Chest
Legs
Shoulder press
Cable machines including
Standard isolation/chest etc
Cable cross over x2


Facilities
Changing/showers
2 studios
Free weights area
Weights machines
Cable machines
Cardio area
Boxing bags


Pricing
£25 a month, cheaper with a longer contract and there are guest passes available
This is a good price I would say and well within the value of the gym


Other bits
There is a sign up fee of £30 which feels a bit over the top these days I would try and haggle this
Not open as early or late as some other places, with 8am Saturday and 9am Sunday start times and closing at 6pm (!!!!!) on a Saturday watch out if this doesn’t match your training pattern

http://www.f4l.com/stevenage/about

https://www.facebook.com/Fit4LessStevenage/