Bannatyne’s Health Club and Spa

This is basically an overpriced home gym (equipment-​wise), but with crap service.
Facilities/​Equipment:
*Treadmills, elliptical, stair stepper, row machines, stationary bike, free weights (3 benches), one of those five-​in-​one weight machines. A lap pool, sauna, hot tub.
*The cool thing about the machines is that they are high tech, you can plug in an iPod, watch tv, and there is free wifi (The Cloud).
*No leg machines, no legit lifting machines.
*The one class I attended at Tower 42 (Bums n Tums) was an absolute joke. I must add that this was taught be a sub teacher.
*The locker rooms are basic, kinda hot and gross some times — but most of the times they do a decent job at blasting the AC. The toilets are situated right in the middle of the locker room floor, so everyone can hear you piss with no privacy.
*Bring your own lock!
Staff:
Always happily texting the hours away, might even look up to answer your questions.
Perks:
One perk is the coffee/​cereal area. I haven’t tried it, but if you’re a fan of free food, might be good. Also, there is a sauna, which I like. Upon entrance you get a big towel (no small ones).
I joined because this «gym» is a strone’s throw from my flat. Immediately, I had issues with my onboarding. Since I had phoned Bannatynes and told them I wanted to sign up, they figured that when I showed up I didn’d need a tour of the facilities, and the price I was quoted wasn’t actually what my contract reflected. I ended up paying more, and the VERY NEXT DAY (I f*ck you not) they had a special for no initiation fee. I paid 30 quid for jack. No wonder they were so eager to get me on that day.
Anyway, every time I arrived, for the first 4 visits, my pin didn’t work. Oh, I also didn’t receive my pin until 3 days later, maybe because it was a weekend. I was told the pin didn’t work because I needed to take a photo. I took the photo, but still was always rejected entrance. Then, one day, I found myself locked out of the turnstile because my pin didn’t work, and there was no one at the front desk, I waited. I waited about 12 minutes. Finally, a woman appeared, as she was giving prospective members tours of the facilities. When I told her I was locked out, and this was the case on ALL my visits, she released the gate to allow me in. I told her that this was great, but I need a permanent resolution. A bit taken aback at my honesty, and embarrassed in front of new clients, she somehow rectified the situation while I worked out.
All-​in-​all, I’ve seen sh*tty hotels that have better gyms than this. I gave a two star because the spin class is supposed to be good, and I love the sauna.