Gyms in Bristol

TruffleShuffle · 20 Sep 2010 at 09:25

Right, i'm moving to Bristol in under a month and so i'm looking for a new gym to goto.

I will be living in Southville but working at Aztec West. I think i'll be joining the Southville Krav Maga group, but i'd also like a gym to attend.

Personally i think one which is close to work would be best (rather than close to home). So Bristolians, what would you recommend?

PaulStat · 20 Sep 2010 at 09:48

I think there's an Esporta not too far from Aztec West

TruffleShuffle · 20 Sep 2010 at 10:08

According to the Esporta Website their gym is in Stoke Gifford (or another one in Clifton).

Morba · 20 Sep 2010 at 10:11

Esporta is close but expensive, though if you use it fully it works out worthwhile.

Who will you be working for? Most Aztec west companies (larger ones) will have deals with local gym.

TruffleShuffle · 20 Sep 2010 at 10:23

One of the smaller companies there: Inty Ltd

My girlfriend works at Aardman there though (would there be a 'freinds+family' discount?).

Crizzy · 20 Sep 2010 at 10:43

Near Aztrec West you have Esporta which is expensive but very posh and a Fitness First at Cribbs Causeway which is just up the road.

Near Southville you have a David Lloyd in Long Ashton but like Esporta it's nice but expensive. There is also a DW Sports (ex JJB) in Hartcliffe of which I am a member and would also recommend.

These are just the big chain gyms in the area which probably offer the best range of equipment and opening hours, not too sure about the smaller local gyms.

Good luck, and welcome to Brizzle

Ice Rich · 20 Sep 2010 at 14:52

There is a ProLab gym near Ashton that I think is hardcore Bodybuilders.

There is a fitness first gym off of Kingswood i attend. Also another at cribbs and I think as a member of FF you can go to any of their gyms.

TruffleShuffle · 20 Sep 2010 at 15:05

It's looking like the FF near the town cetnre is my best bet which is a bit of a pain as i'm having to go for a gym that's close to home rather than work but hopefully by the time i've gotten home, eaten and gotten ready it'll be quiet again after the 6pm rush.

PS. Damn i miss being a student £50 a month? with a 12-month locked in contract? Bloody good racket.

Russinating · 20 Sep 2010 at 15:13

The Welshback is fairly close to Southville (or at least a <5 minute cycle/10 minute walk on the flat). Not a member but heard it's ok: www.welshback.co.uk‎.

stulid · 20 Sep 2010 at 15:17

LA gym at Lawrence Hill

Morba · 20 Sep 2010 at 15:23

La gym is a good option, just don't park a nice car near by!

Crizzy · 20 Sep 2010 at 15:49

TruffleShuffle said:
It's looking like the FF near the town cetnre is my best bet which is a bit of a pain as i'm having to go for a gym that's close to home rather than work but hopefully by the time i've gotten home, eaten and gotten ready it'll be quiet again after the 6pm rush.

PS. Damn i miss being a student £50 a month? with a 12-month locked in contract? Bloody good racket.

If you're thinking about the town centre then there is a Carrefour and Fitness4Less in Broadmead. I've also heard the Welshback is quite nice and depending where in Southville you are may even be walking distance.

If you want a gym near work at Aztec West for me it would be Fitness First at Cribbs I think. If I wanted a gym nearer to home DW Sports is excellent value and has a pool.

Locke · 20 Sep 2010 at 15:52

Crizzy said:
If you're thinking about the town centre then there is a Carrefour and Fitness4Less in Broadmead. I've also heard the Welshback is quite nice and depending where in Southville you are may even be walking distance.

If you want a gym near work at Aztec West for me it would be Fitness First at Cribbs I think. If I wanted a gym nearer to home DW Sports is excellent value and has a pool.

Been looking for some myself like the OP, but in the centre. Only seen those 2 you mentioned as well, guess there isn't much other choice?

TruffleShuffle · 20 Sep 2010 at 16:01

Yeah i'll be on Coronation road just down from Asda so Welsh Back should be about 15 mins walking distance (or a good warm up

)

I get the feeling my mrs is going to want a nice shiny place with plasmas and whatnot though, rather than somewhere where you can actually get anything done!

Crizzy · 20 Sep 2010 at 16:02

Locke said:
Been looking for some myself like the OP, but in the centre. Only seen those 2 you mentioned as well, guess there isn't much other choice?

Carrefour is a pretty big gym, I used to be a member just after it opened about 8 years ago when I worked in Broadmead and really enjoyed going there.

Carrefour and Fitness4Less are in Broadmead next to the Galleries and Fitness First and the Welshback are both nearer the Centre, so it depends on where you are. Might be worth popping into them all to have a tour and to see if there are any offers on?

MikeHunt79 · 20 Sep 2010 at 16:18

The one up near Clifton triangle has a swimming pool on the 1st floor which I think is pretty nice but apart from that I'm not really sure which ones are good or bad I'm afraid!

Nexus · 20 Sep 2010 at 17:38

TruffleShuffle said:
It's looking like the FF near the town cetnre is my best bet which is a bit of a pain as i'm having to go for a gym that's close to home rather than work but hopefully by the time i've gotten home, eaten and gotten ready it'll be quiet again after the 6pm rush.

PS. Damn i miss being a student £50 a month? with a 12-month locked in contract? Bloody good racket.

Is that their website price?
Much easier to go in and talk to them as you can haggle the price down. There's a really good guide on MoneySavingExpert on gyms, as its a very competitive market. However, I think there is only so far you can go.

I recently followed the guide, went to my local Fitness First on the last day of the month when they were in full sales drive. I took my brothers card with me for a referral and the initial price they were offering me for the package with the least bells and whistles was about £48 a month.

My brother only pays £33 a month for the same gym. So I haggled on it with the guy having to go to his manager twice. I was eventually told I could have it for £37.99 a month, which I again pointed out was more than my brother paid for the same service. His only response was that my brother had been a member a year and they were stupid to have signed up people for membership that cheap!

I pointed out that it didn't make sense and that I would probably look at the competition if they couldn't match my brothers price. At which point I walked out, thinking maybe they would then drop it, but they didn't... however they did keep the card with all my details, so I half expected a call from them, but it's been a couple of weeks now.

TommyV · 21 Sep 2010 at 12:16

TruffleShuffle said:
According to the Esporta Website their gym is in Stoke Gifford (or another one in Clifton).

+1 for Esporta, have been going here for the last year.

It's only ever really hugely busy on mondays (weights), every other day doesn't tend to be too bad, but no one will ever moan if you ask to share a bench with them, everyone is real friendly (apart from one jackass a couple months ago who had 3x set of dumbells and 1x barbell, claiming to be using all of them -_-)

£47 a month, working for Orange UK (now everything everywhere)

cHk4 · 21 Sep 2010 at 12:28

http://www.mofgym.co.uk/ great gym from what I've heard. Owned by a Body Builder.

Morba · 21 Sep 2010 at 12:47

It is a great gym, tom is a nice bloke and went through a lot of crap to get his gym approved. Loads of equipment and very cheap to be a member. He does a rolling month contract as well, which helps people

Tom:

TommyV, which building you at for EE and how much you paying for esporta?