Claire's reviews
Review of Soho Gyms
23 Sep 07, 23:35
So No Gym 
Six months ago, I would have given this place four stars, now, it gets a paltry two.
Soho Gym used to be a slightly off beat alternative to the huge corporates that dominate the Clapham gym world. (Alright so there are three or four branches across London, but it's hardly Virgin Active or Fitness First).
It attracts a predominantly gay male clientele, but is straight-friendly and as long as you don't object to the macho posturing, is a great place to work out.
Upstairs is all the cardio equipment - a decent number of treadmills, cycles and cross trainers, plus a couple of rowing machines.
Downstairs it's free weights and plenty of machines, plus a studio for classes.
The biggest drawback is the lack of mat space - there's really only enough space for 3 or 4 people to exercise on the mats and that's just not enough, even when it's slightly busy.
Then there's the fact that there are barely any Swiss balls and the ones there are flat as pancakes.
There used to be a really big range of classes but they've now cut them back - and unfortunately in the process cut two of the ones I used to go to regularly.
All of these would be really minor niggles were it not for the fact that in the last two years, the monthly subscription has rocketed from around £45 to nearly £60. And when, unlike other gyms, they don't allow you to suspend your membership if you have to travel with work, that makes it at least £120 a year that I pay for precisely nothing.
This wasn't meant to be just a rant, it's just disappointing that what was a nice alternative to the money-grabbing Holmes Places and LA Fitnesses of this world seems to have prioritised cash over existing customers.
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