Gymbox

They're your best friend when you sign up, but couldn't give you the time of day if you wish to leave. Fab marketing but dreadful customer service and poor management. Look past the paint job and there's not much between this place and any other gym. The piles of abandonned gimmicks in the so called 'rig' area speaks volumes. The trainers seem to be more interested in the staff beauty parade than in the people who pay their wages. 

Do not fall for the marketing! This place appears to spend so much money on gimmicky advertising that they are unwilling to spend any on repairing broken equipment (treadmills, weighing scales) quickly, totally ineffective air-conditioning, shower rooms that smell because the drains are blocked (and have been for many weeks) and – worst of all, in my opinion – a web-based class booking system that is badly designed and has unreliable, flaky behaviour which can (and has, for me) mean that classes are inaccessible.

I suppose this business model makes sense: Spend your budget on constantly striving to get more and more members in, which generates revenue, rather than making things pleasant for those who are already signed up, which doesn’t carry much benefit for the management.

It’s not all negative (hence two stars rather than one) though, as the equipment is rather good (when it’s not so crowded that you can’t get near it) and some of the classes are excellent (when the website allows you to book them). Just be wary of the many things wrong with the place.

Really good gym, lots of machines and space to work out, 100's of classes as well and good instructors to boot.

One negative thing I will say is it's expensive! make sure you use the Mhoula discount (http://www.mhoula.com/Brands/Gymbox/21) and if you want a personal trainer most will give you a free taster but after that it'll be about £50 an hour with varying prices for writing a programme.

To sum this gym up... they have a boxing ring, drum and bass dj's doing live mixes, loads of pretty people and a good reputation as one of the best central gyms, if that ticks all your boxes then this is the gym for you!

Definetely not the same as your average city centre gym. I can see why it wouldn’t be everyone’s cup of tea but I like it. Plenty of machines, plasma screens, good music and a great variety of different classes from “bitch boxing” to street dance. The only down side is that it doesn’t have a pool.

Personally, I think it’s a great gym for combat classes and I’d like to reply to ‘gymgoer’s observations specifically concerning the Muay Thai. Gymgoer mentions he trains in another MT gym, so he will know full well that any self-respecting Muay Thai gym has a ring, which in the majority of cases the students train in. Go to any gym in Thailand and you will see classes conducted from the ring. Admittedly Gymbox can get crowded on occasions, but personally I don’t think it’s a problem - it teaches a degree of control. Furthermore, Gymbox has one of the best instructors I have ever trained under, Kru Phillip Tieu.

This self proclaimed New York style gym feels like a warehouse with its cavernous interior and pared down décor. They have numerous cardio machines a large weights area an Olympic size boxing ring and a variety of classes including pole dancing. To keep you motivated they have a nightly DJ. All cardio machines have their own small TV screen so you can get lost in Eastenders whilst you pound away. If you work or live centrally this is one of the better gyms.