Luxury end of the gym market, clean, lots of machines
Disadvantages:
Expensive, no hard core body builders to give tips
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
UPDATE ****** This gym has now bought the best Smith machine I have ever used, its superb, they also have an E-Z bar , so I can now do my favourite exercises!
NOW CARRY ON READING *******************
I have in the past 3 months become a member of Holmes Place, mainly because I need to get in shape again and loose those extra pounds that have materialised on my torso without my consent. The gym is also right outside Hendon Central Underground station, so I can't help but think of it as I'm going home each day. No excuses I told myself like "it's too far", or "I keep on forgetting to go" basically it's the antithesis of 'out of sight out of mind'.
The gym itself is huge, as it was once an old style cinema with three really large screens. It has a swimming pool, two halls for classes, and a whole level for holistic exercises and beauty treatment. The main floors with al the weights and fitness machines etc. is really spacious. There must be around 15-20 running machines, about the same for cycling machines (2 varieties), every type of skiing simulation style machine imaginable (the ones where there is very low impact on the knees and your arms use two sticks going back and forth simultaneously as your legs go up and down) and lots of step machines and some others which I look too difficult to try and no one ever use.
The gym even has a womans only section which is subtly cordoned off with clouded glass.
I like to use the free weights, now this is where the gym is seriously lacking, as I should have realised as the gym calls itself a 'health club' and not a 'fitness club'. Now they have a rack of dumbbells (nothing special mind you -the silver metal ones that goes up to around 20kg) and have some preset bar bells going up to 60kg. There is no smith machine and the bench is so narrow I actually complained that it was dangerous to use because there is no room to stretch your arms for a wide grip. There is no E-Z bar either as there are no loose weights. There is an excellent pulley machine with all the attachments that you could want.
The resistance machines are very good and not electronic (my last gym had the electronic variety and I just couldn't get good work out with them) They have doubles of every thing so you can usually get the machine you want first time. I know for a fact the only way to pump up my chest and get that chiselled look is to use free weights with bar bells and dumb bells, using flat, inclined and decline bench, the trouble is there is none of the just mentioned. Also, my favourite exercise using the E-Z bar as barbell which is brilliant for the inner chest and triceps I can’t even do because they have no such bar.
I have complained and they did state they are getting a smith machine and revamping their free weights as they underestimated the popularity of weight training. (I actually thought that was the core requirements of a gym - I keep on forgetting -its a health club not a fitness one-silly me)
The gym instructors seem knowledgeable enough and the staff are very friendly and not really pose-y.
There are lots of classes going on all throughout the day and evening such as step, body pump, ju-jitsu, Tai-chi, yoga and dozens more they are all free with the monthly fee. Now this gym is not cheap infact it’s very expensive I pay £70 a month - but as gyms go this is in the luxury 5 star hotel range. (You get handed a towel as you come in) there is even a machine to wring your swimming trunks dry after you have gone swimming. Of course there are private cubicles for showers, with shampoo and soap as complimentary. There is a sauna and steam room and the changing rooms have loads of lockers and face cream, hair dryer’s and deodorant on the tables.
There is also a cafeteria and lounge to watch TV or relax and read their supplied newspaper. As you work out you can watch sky TV on the many 42" screens, you just plug your headphones into this device and you can watch one of the many channels showing - there are lots of channels and even radio stations as you work out. Luxury eh?
I'm not sure whether I will renew my membership after my 6 months is up, as I have now joined a boxercise/kickboxing class in Camden Town and go twice a week. But I thought to my self I either pay to get physically fit or will stay physically fat.(I'm not actually fat but I used to be in super shape). Another good thing with the Holmes Place chain is they have lots of branches all over London and even abroad such as Tel-Aviv (in Israel) and you can link your membership with that gym for an extra £5.
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