Beacon Hill Athletic Club

I joined this place when I moved in across the street and realistically it’s where I plan to stay because it’s convenient but there are definitely drawbacks that will make it easy for me to swap gyms whenever I do move.
Pro: On site laundry is great especially for someone who has 1 semi functioning dryer in their apartment building. Plus it’s great to get laundry done while working out.
Con: 2 of the 6 washers have been broken for months.
Pro: Free classes– the yoga classes are actually particularly good and they have a whole spin room though I’ve never been able to make a class.
Con: Very limited times and never a class past 730 pm and hardly any on weekend days if you want to sleep in.
Biggest Con: The hours are just ridiculous to me for the money. It really only seems to cater to people who work a standard 9 – 5. They don’t open til 6 on weekdays which completely eliminates morning work outs for me– most places nearby have 530 or 5 am opens even when I was at planet fitness in high school I could get one in because they open at 5am– for 10 bucks a month! Then closing at 10pm always feels very early to me and whenever I’ve been there for close there are still tons of people trying to fit their workouts in when they shut the TVs off and start trying to get everyone out, 11 seems more reasonable (again for the money). The weekend hours I guess are standard but it still sucks if you work a 12 hour day on the weekend. I know not everyone’s schedule is tough to work around but when you genuinely want to go work out and the gym isn’t open when you need it it becomes frustrating.
Biggest pro: A lot of people seem to be complaining about the equipment but I actually think the diversity in they’re fitness equipment is awesome. I don’t do a ton of cardio in the gym except spinning but they seem to have a machine for everything– rowers, treadmills, recumbent and upright bikes, ellipticals and arcs, a stair climber, steppers, and I don’t even know what they’re called but they make like a skating motion and make my butt kill when I get on one. Plus again one of the 2 fitness studio rooms is a spin studio.
They have a big weights section (apparently some were broken or not covered– like you’re lifting things up I guess I don’t get the big deal but I’m not huge into weights either so whatever). But then there’s also this big stretch of racks and pretty much every kind of cable machine/​pull up bar/​supported squat rack I’ve ever seen and different benches and things. Plus a lot of standard weight machines running through the cardio area if that’s your thing.
The thing stuff that I love the best though is what my trainer has taught me to use. There’s tons of kettle bells, medicine balls, weighted bars, blocks/​benches, a spare set of weights away from the sort of macho weight lifting area for small resistance moves, tons of resistance bands and bosus, and a great group of exercise trainers for working toward being able to do pull ups, squats, push ups etc. But my favorite spot is the afterburn equipment. I’ve never paid for afterburn class because I could never go to it anyway but the stuff they use is great– they have those scary weighted ropes that kill your arms and core, a big tire to push around or do dips on, a trampoline that my trainer uses for different exercises, weighted bars, cables with different attachments, and just in general the area is open and can be used for any and all kinds of scary work outs she comes up with and I try to replicate on my own.
This was very long but before I joined I tried to use Unilocal to gauge whether it was worth walking in there and so since then I have been meaning to drop some serious info on here. Although there are things I wish I could change about the place I will say that I am fitter now than I have ever been in my life and I credit that mostly to the fact that I decided I needed a trainer since I had no clue what to do with all that equipment but now that I know how to use it I’m so glad that this gym is there– it may not meet all of my needs but it’s definitely a good spot to work out– people are for the most part friendly or keep to themselves which I can appreciate and the staff have always been really nice.

I’ve been a member of this gym since the day it opened. As others have noted in their reviews, it is seriously overpriced for what it offers and has gone downhill over the past year or so. The two primary benefits are convenience (steps from my apartment) and laundry machines. However, I’ve become increasingly fed up with this place. The general manager, Mark, is a nice guy, but most of the rest of the staff are pretty useless. They often blast crappy music so loudly I can’t even hear my own music through my headphones, equipment is often broken, and they have some of the most restrictive hours I’ve ever encountered in a gym (like closing at 4 pm on most holiday weekends and at noon on minor holidays). Even more irritating, they recently got rid of 6 or 7 of my favorite weight machines. When I inquired about the reasoning behind this, I was assured by one of the stupid girls who works there that they were being replaced. Of course they never were. In their place, they have this ridiculous piece of astroturf, which serves no purpose. If it weren’t for the convenience, I would have resigned my membership a long time ago.

I’ve worked out here for 7 years and I tolerated the high monthly rate ($ 60+) because it is walking distance from my apartment. Over the past year and a half the place has really gone down hill. Their dumbbells have a hard plastic cover on them which crack and then peel off. They did one replacement order in October of 2014, (the sign announcing the order is still hanging up on the main mirror) but have not replaced any recently. A couple dumbbells have the cover completely ripped off on one side, note the pictures. These are not safe because the weight of the dumbbell is no longer the weight that is posted on it. The staff knows about this, they see it everyday but do nothing to replace them. If I pay over $ 60 a month, there should be safe equipment that is not damaged. If I were the manager, I would be embarrassed to have weights on the rack in this condition. It really shows how lazy the management is here.

As a member of Beacon Hill Athletic Club Wellesley since it opened its doors several years ago (I was one of the first members), I can honestly say that it’s my favorite gym that I’ve ever belonged to. I especially like the staff, who are all so courteous, friendly, and helpful. They listen to ideas for new classes and make them happen! Unlike other gyms, I like every class that is taught there because the instructors are exceptional and well-​known as leaders in the fitness industry. They make it fun and people look forward to coming to work out. The class times are reflective of a range of schedules to accommodate most, and they’re all great. Keep up the good work Beacon Hill!

There’s nothing wrong with this gym. If you’re looking for a place to combat the weight that crept up on you while you were busy mending the 1.5 broken hearts you’ve suffered from since moving to Boston, and you know your lazy ass ain’t gonna make it to Coolidge or Packards Corner, this is it honey. Go in, work your ass off and go home. Easy peasy. What more do you want?!

I used to enjoy this gym but the new staff they have hired is pretty terrible. They are always on their phones, offer no hellos/​goodbyes, give looks of genuine disgust when you actually make them work by asking for a water, and do absolutely no cleaning. The equipment is often broken and every single time I’ve been there in the past two weeks the paper towels to wipe the machines are out or there is no cleaner available. The location is convenient which might make it a good fit for some, but I would take my business elsewhere. You expect a little more from a gym that is pretty expensive, you won’t get that here.

I’ve learned to love the burn. The facility is always clean, the staff is super friendly, the classes are awesome. I’ve really gotten back in my groove with the help of BHAC and can’t wait to see where I am a year from now. Also, somebody give Whitney a raise!

They were charging me for over two years after canceling my membership. I only discovered this after getting a new card with a new number and receiving an email from beacon hill athletic clubs with «your payment didn’t go through». I guess I should pay attention to my monthly bank statements– lesson learned!
They declined to give me a refund asking for a piece of paper as proof that I cancelled my membership from over two years ago. They did finally cancel the membership and wiped the charges for the month of May after refusing to do so the first time I called, saying «we can’t do that at this time».
Will not be recommending this gym to friends and will not be going back.

The equipment is often broken, but they try to keep up. It’s a bit grimy for the monthly rate but the classes are good. Buyer beware cancellation requires 30 days notice before the first of the next month. So if you put in notice even on March 2 for April 1 they will charge you two months no use. No prorating either! So don’t plan any fast moves!

I have been coming to this gym since the summer but my parents have been coming since around the time it opened. The last gym I was a member of was Healthworks, which cost over 100 $ a month so obviously I’m not expecting most gyms to compare to it. I was looking for something cheaper and more serious (less housewives standing around) and this place was perfect.
The gym is not huge but it has many machines, a boxing studio, yoga studio, spinning room, and weight room. Bonus, it includes a sauna which I have yet to use. Compared to a previous Beacon Hill Athletics Club in Brookline Village I was a member of for a brief period of time, it is a castle.
I notice that a lot of people are there everyday, which motivates me. However, an elliptical is always open for me to use as well as any other machine I would like to. People are really good about cleaning their machines after use and are friendly to other gym goers. The clientele tends to be graduate age/​late 20s.
Classes are offered everyday and they are all free except for Afterburn. However, you can try your first Afterburn free. The Vinyasa Yoga class I went to was invigorating and gave me an intense workout! I wish some of the classes were offered later at night though.
I did a few training sessions and they were great, better than the ones I did at Healthworks. My trainer not only taught me exercises to target core areas, she also measured things such as my muscle mass and gave me eating advice! All the staff are approachable and friendly.

I am truly disappointed with this gym.
The facilities are nice, however if you like to take classes they don’t have enough options. They don’t have any daytime classes. No Pilates, hardly any yoga, and some pretty terrible classes on the current schedule.
It seems like they cancel too many classes every time there is a holiday. I understand Christmas and NYE but to go and cancel classes the whole weekend is wrong. People join the gym because they want to work out. Its wrong not to be open regular hours after the holiday and to cancel not hold regular classes the whole following weekend.

Solid gym; you can do laundry here, staff is friendly, never gets too overcrowded, lots machines. I go here 3 – 5 times a week and the hours are also very good since I come after work a lot.
Only negative comment is that the price per month is pretty high for comparable gyms. I only come to this one since its 10 min walking from my apartment and the other closest gym is BSC (I’m a past member for certain reasons). I’m moving to the South End soon where my gym will be $ 36 a month (that’s more like it). However, the price is high due to them offering a lot of classes (I only lift) such as spinning, yoga, etc. Makes sense, but I still dont like paying for it.

To be clear: this review is for the Beacon Hill Athletic Club Cleveland Circle location at
1686 Commonwealth Ave, Brighton, MA.
The Good:
+ It is close to many apartments in the student ghetto that is Brighton.
+ It is close to the Sutherland Road Green Line B stop.
The Bad:
— They charge between $ 60−80/month for a gym membership. Why is this bad? Because if you lived in many other places in the Boston area, you would be paying $ 20−40/month for identical quality product. For example, Planet Fitness or Workout World are of comparable quality to this gym, but charge 50−75% less. Why can this gym charge so much? Location. You’re not checking out this gym because you want to. You’re checking out this gym because you live within walking distance to it.
— Businesses that have more employee turnover than the Beacon Hill Athletic Club Cleveland Circle: McDonalds. That’s about it. Along the wall of the gym are photographs and a brief biography of employees. A fun game to play the first time you’re at the gym is «How many of these photos are of ex-​employees?» Hint: it’s over 50%. Why is this a concern for a prospective gym member? Well, if people don’t want to work there, you have to figure there’s something wrong behind the scenes. Bad management? Bad employee work environment? Who knows. Something is wrong.
— The gym has really average trainers. When is average bad? When you want the guy/​girl you’re paying $ 60/​hour to train you to be Adonis so you have a physical ideal to aspire to. There’s a problem when you look around the gym and 75% of the people you see are buffer/​more fit than the trainers. I don’t know where they recruited their trainers from, but it sure ain’t where Equinox hires their trainers from. Oh, and eavesdrop on their trainers if you get the chance. Some of the mis-​information they provide to their clients is atrocious.
The Ugly:
— Do you like «Out of Order» signs? Because if you do, I know of the gym for you! I guarantee when you tour the facility, there will be at least one treadmill/​cycle/​elliptical/​stair climber/​some piece of equipment that has an Out of Order sign on it. Do you know how I can make that guarantee? Because I have never gone to the gym and not seen a piece of equipment that was Out of Order.
— Their stretch room. If you live in the Brighton area (which you do, because you’re not considering this gym if you live in a nicer area), then your tiny ass bedroom is bigger than their stretch room. If you’re ever unlucky enough to be in the stretch room with 2 or more people, then you will soon learn what their body scent is. There’s no other option. You will be on top of each other.
— Their locker size. Whoever said that size doesn’t matter hasn’t ever had to try to pack their gym bag, a jacket, and shoes into their lockers. They’re tiny… like «shit, is his dick an innie??» tiny.
The summary:
If you are reading this review, then I’m willing to bet that I know (within a 5 minute walk) where you live. No one else goes to the gym except for people who are unfortunate enough to live in the area. That should be your first sign that this gym is not exactly the best bang for your buck. Look, if you have another option to go to another gym, TAKE IT AND RUN. If you’re stuck paying an exorbitant monthly fee for a subpar product, then I feel for you.

This gym is clean, cheap, and a good size! I go here sometimes when I want to use the weight equipment since the Brookline Village location I also go to is way smaller and doesn’t seem to have as much equipment nor space to use it. There are good size class rooms that you can use when there are no classes going on and they have plenty of cardio machines. The locker rooms are clean and in good shape, they are just a little bit small in my opinion. Overall I think this gym is a great value, especially for Boston!

I’ve been going to BHAC in Cleveland Circle since the summer, and I’ve been really happy going there! It’s incredibly close to where I live (so no excuses!) and it’s a pretty decent-​sized gym. It’s definitely not huge, but there are a lot of cardio machines (treadmills, crossramps, etc) and a lot of free weights/​weight machines. There is also a boxing studio, spinning room, and general class room. I normally go right after work and even though it’s the most crowded time of the day, I can usually get on a machine right away.
The gym is also really clean and the crowd is very decent. People tend to keep to themselves and are very considerate of keeping it clean. I’ve never felt uncomfortable working out there, whether doing cardio or free weights or stretching, which is definitely really key. The staff is also really friendly and attentive, so its an added bonus for sure!
Lastly, they’ve got a wide variety of classes offered (varieties of yoga, spinning, zumba, kickboxing/​boxing, etc). I’ve only been able to try Zumba with Ketty, and I absolutely love it! She’s such a great, high energy instructor and her class is always full, it seems like everyone there loves her and is loyal to her classes. It’s a very open community and even though I feel like I look crazy, again, I’m happy to say I’ve never felt judged there! My only wish is that there were more classes offered at later times, at least for Zumba since the classes are always full. A girl can dream!

I have been going to Beacon Hill Athletic Club for the past several years. The employees seem happy to be there and have almost zero turnover; I have seen the same employees there since I first started coming. I have found this them to be a very helpful and well trained staff.
The club manager Mark DiBattista is very hands on, and can often be seen checking in on regulars and tinkering with the AMT machines making sure all of the equipment is in top shape. Over the years I have come to know Mark well, and he is a dedicated and knowledgeable individual, and often checks in on my progress towards my goals and offers motivation. The staff is constantly cleaning and sanitizing benches and equipment, and keeping it about as clean an environment as you can have in a gym.
Since I began personal training in September, 5 months ago, I have greatly increased my strength and agility, and lost 18 lbs. Each workout is different, and Mark, who is my trainer, follows up to hold me accountable and make sure I am getting in between sessions. Furthermore, new equipment is being constantly added, and each expansion brings new opportunities to expand and vary workouts. This might be the only gym on the planet with 8 AMT machines (the most advanced ellipticals on the market), and with their fleet of machines I have never had to wait to jump in, a constant frustration when I was a member of the Y in Brighton. They also have many classes, but as I have not been in any I can’t report on them.
As a longtime customer, I cannot say enough good things about this gym.

For 64 dollars a month I get a ton of cardio machines, weight machines, and free weights. What more could a girl ask for? Well, I could ask for an arc trainer, but I suppose I’ll take the cross ramp if I have to.
In Boston it’s hard to find a happy medium of cheap but sanitary and in good shape. This being the case you often find very expensive gyms/​spas in pristine condition or really dumpy gyms where all the machines are broken and there’s MRSA on everything. Enter Beacon Hill Athletic Club– moderately priced with everything you need to work out with no added frills.
I only go and do my own work outs, but they also have a full schedule of classes that always seem packed, so I’m assuming they’re good. They also have personal trainers that you can work with for an added fee, not sure what the fee is, but it could be worthwhile if you need that added push to get going.
I always go right after work and never have to wait for machines even during the «rush hour» of gym times, I love this gym and will continue going here while I’m living in Boston!

I used to have a membership at Beacon Hill Athletic Club but in the mean time, I bought a road bike and I canceled it. It’s the closest gym to my house (basically right across the street from my place) so that makes it very convenient. It’s cold now so I got my membership back.
I like it because it’s clean, it has a lot of classes between 6 – 8 pm. I love spinning so I go to spinning mostly. Recently, I took Evelyn’s class. She is an awesome spinning teacher. The BEST spinning teacher so far!!! Keep up the good work Evelyn! Too bad she only teaches 1 night/​wk (Monday).
Cons — it’s a little bit pricey $ 60+ /​month + one time registration fee and also because they don’t offer locks in the locker room.

I’ve been coming here for a couple of weeks now, so far so good.
I am working with Jon for training, and he is getting me moving and keeping me from dying of boredom on the treadmill! I walk out of sessions feeling tired, but not like throwing up. I get homework too, and it motivates me to go back more often to get in more reps.
My only gripe is that there are signs on the walls saying no cellphones, and people are yakking away… in the group workout room, and on the treadmills. It drives me crazy!

My friend and I went here with a free trial offer they have online. The person who worked here was really nice and asked if we wanted a tour or just walk around ourselves. We decided to just explore the gym on our own.
What was important to me is that I could get a cardio machine, have different classes to choose from and it was clean. The gym can get pretty full at 6pm on Tuesday/​Wednesday but all the other days I never had a issue getting a machine. I also love their zumba class. I haven’t tried any of their other classes yet but when I peek inside they seem to be really great. The gym is kept in good condition and is clean.
The perks is that I love watching cable tv while I work out. It motivates me when I am on the bike and want to finish the end of Law and Order so I have to bike for one hour to finish the episode! Also I feel comfortable with the people who attend this gym as they are 23+ and people know each other after a while. They also have laundry machines but I haven’t used them. Also if you are taking the T it stops right in front of this place.
I love this gym!