Sports Park At U E A

Very nice gym, friendly staff.
I used the outdoor track. It was very nice.
They have a great looking climbing wall and a nice café.
The locker rooms could be updated.

Their staff are rude and unhelpful, there is one particular young lad on the front desk who you would think it was his own private club. If you forget your card it’s 60p to get in (even though they have a picture of you on their screen and it would take a second to look up)
If you have a 3 year old with you they will charge them the same. They will let the swimming kids go through on their own but not the squash kids, they also will leave the lights off most times and insist its on a timer but you end up waiting 10 minutes (a quarter of the session) to get them turned on.
They will take card payments over the phone but when you are there in person they refuse. You have to pick up your mobile and ring them while you are face to face to get this done!

There seems to be quite a few negative reviews for the Sportspark, which surprises me somewhat as it’s probably the best sports centre I’ve used. I was a regular user of the gym, on a £30 per month Gold Membership, which entitled me to use whenever I wanted it. I mainly use the running machines, of which there are 10 – 12, as well as cross trainers (same again) and rowing machines. I found I could get in after work and get on a machine mostly as soon as I arrived, which isn’t too shoddy considering it’s a well used gym. I also liked to use the weights machines, which if you chose tactically could provide a good workout. Sure, it gets busy, but compared to some London gyms I’ve been to where I’ve paid £40+ per month, it’s positively breezy.
As well as the gym, the Sportspark has a fantastic climbing wall, two 25m (or sometimes 1 50m) swimming pools, indoor games areas for badminton etc, a martial arts and dance studio, an amazing gymnastics facility, an outdoor athletics area and outdoor games area, squash courts and a neat little café/​bar. Prices are good if you’re a member and they often run introduction courses to activities which are particularly good value. There’s also the popular free circuit training on a Monday and Tuesday lunchtime which is a fantastic little workout!
I’ve used quite the place quite a bit, having used the gym and pool regularly, as well as going on squash and climbing courses (as well as subsequently using these facilities independently), done Taekwondo with the Saracens club, played badminton with friends, done athletics with the Circuit training people and I’m currently doing a gymnastics course at their new gymnasium (!).
I’ve found the staff are courteous and eager to help, the wet and dry locker rooms have been clean every time I’ve used them and in general I’ve grown to love the place. I’m sorry that some people have had bad experiences, but in terms of value for money and facilities available, the Sportspark is amazing and I love that it’s just a short cycle from my home.

Fantastic facilities etc., as indicated by Jimmyx, unfortunately spoiled by poor management decisions. For example, disgracefully demanding that parents who are simply dropping children off pay to use the loo! Fortunately though, the clubs based at the centre aren’t run by the UEA Sports Park management team.

Funded from a National Lottery grant. The Sports Park is situated within the University of East anglia campus and is one of the top Sporting facilities in Norfolk. Facilities include an olympic sized swiimming pool, gym, climbing wall, squash courts, sports halls for badminton, basketball, table tennis. Outside there is a Athletcis Track, Astro Turf soccer pitches and Tennis courts. There are also a number weekly of Martial arts and fitness clubs (Tae Kwan Do, Shotiokan Karate, aerobics, Thai-​boxing etc). There is also a restuaraunt for refreshments. Prices are very competitive especially if you take out monthly rate a gold card for instance, which allows you to gym and swim any time of the day will set you back at around 30 odd pound a month
My only bugbear is that the weight area in the gym is a bit small so feel cramped at busy times, and there is no Power rack, which is an esssential part of any gym.