Fitness First Reviews Summary

Gym Environment

Pros:

• "The gym looks excellent, the all stuff so friendly and nice."
• "The gym is very good and never gets too busy that you can not get on equipment."
• "Fitness First Balham, though technically located in Tooting Bec, shines brightly in this up and coming area."
• "The facilities at Fitness First Balham are good, with modern equipment and well-maintained spaces."
• "It's also always clean and tidy (with Norman running the show so efficiently)."
• "Always spotlessly clean."

Cons:

• "Unfortunately this location is a very poor example of what is supposed to be a high level gym group given the price."
• "Not only is this location small, it is tiny and compacted."
• "Dated overall in particular the equipment which is not slightly but massively limited in range."
• "Zero floor space to even lay a mat and stretch post workout."

Staff and Personal Trainers

Pros:

• "The special trainer Jason, friendly, helpful and shining person."
• "Norman is a fantastic instructor, and his classes are challenging but he makes them enjoyable too!"
• "I’m a new member and am impressed with the helpfulness of the staff."
• "ALL the staff are amazing at Balham Fitness first making this place accessible to all."
• "James showed me the different parts of the gym where the machines and free weights were located."
• "The staff are super friendly and helpful!"

Cons:

• "I emailed the manager complaining about the service and about my partner’s dislocated shoulder, he didn’t reply."
• "Poor communication and never respond to emails."

Classes and Scheduling

Pros:

• "There are classes on throughout the day which are great."
• "This gym has a great range of classes."
• "I attended the classes mostly and I’m very pleased with the variety."
• "The classes are LIFE... try Diane's hiit, Angela's sat morning glutes or Malcolm's shred."
• "The classes are brilliant- I have been a member for almost 4 years and cannot fault it."

Cons:

• "It would be even better if lunch classes were available!"
• "I am unable to make the 7:30 class as it’s too late."

Price and Value

Pros:

• "Fitness First Balham in Tooting Bec is the place to be."
• "A reasonable price for all the services they offer."
• "Price is also very fair given the variety of classes, facilities access you get!"

Cons:

• "For £65 a month it is grossly overrated."
• "Expensive for the size and what it offers, especially for a gym in tooting bec, they abuse the fact it's the only gym in the area to charge more."

Equipment and Facilities

Pros:

• "The gym is small, but well equipped."
• "The gym comes with a sauna and steam room and its moments away from Tooting Bec Station."
• "Really good gym for lifting: 3 squat racks, decent number of benches and free weights."
• "Just undergone a refurbishment, plenty of space for free weights and multiple squat racks."

Cons:

• "The only downside is it gets super busy during peak hours and it’s quite small, so often end up hanging around waiting for equipment."
• "After having some workout I realize that the gym needs some more equipments for exercise just to make it more better and worth it."
• "My only wish is that it was bigger with more equipment as it gets overly crowded quite quickly."

Atmosphere and Community

Pros:

• "A great gym with such a community feel."
• "The gym has an inclusive, welcoming vibe."
• "It’s like having a whole other family. We know each other by name and the staff are part of the family."
• "The community feeling inside the gym is something that makes you want to come back."

Cons:

• "Sometimes the atmosphere is a bit intense, too competitive for a beginner."
• "Could do with a bit more social space to interact with other gym goers."

Hygiene and Maintenance

Pros:

• "Maintenance is good and when equipment breaks it is fixed relatively quickly."
• "It's always been clean whenever I visit."

Cons:

• "I’ve seen the same dust in the corners for weeks."
• "Occasionally, showers are not fully stocked with soap and occasionally are a bit dirty."

Overall Experience

Pros:

• "I absolutely love this gym."
• "The gym has a good energy and vibe about it."
• "Overall, a really nice gym with a great community feel."
• "Best gym experience I’ve had in a long time."

Cons:

• "I'm considering changing gyms due to the issues highlighted."
• "A mixed experience, some good, some bad, not sure if I'll renew."