Better - Clissold Leisure Centre Avis 

I was cycling in the temporary space for spin bikes (sports hall) last week around 6.45, as the 2 spin bikes in the gym area were being used at the time. A spin class started up about 15 minutes later, but given that A) There were around 15-20 spare bikes in the hall; B) I was not obstructing the view of view of any class member, and; C) I remained on the bike i.e was not moving around and temporarily obstructing the view of any class member, I did not imagine that there should be a major issue with remaining on the spin bike while the class continued. After an initial conversation with the class instructor, in which the class instructor insinuated that I had engaged in deception in order to be there (I was in plain view for 20 minutes prior), I was then asked to leave 10 minutes later because it was 'not fair on everyone else'. I would understand this line of argument if I was taking the space of someone who had booked for the class. However, there were more than enough spare bikes when the class started. If the class was 'fully booked' in the system, I would suggest that the 15-20 spare bikes are either partitioned somewhere else in the hall for general use, or that some of them are moved next to the two spin bikes in the gym on the second floor. This would ensure that there are sufficient numbers of spin bikes for individuals and class attendants to use during opening hours, and prevent the need for class instructors to conduct policing on paid-up Better members using available gym equipment.

@Charmaine. Thank you for your response. Good luck on getting the centre manager (Martin Young) to message me directly. I emailed him on Monday 8th January and have not had a response, but then again I never get a reply until I have chased him at least 2/3 times. When I sent a chase email on Friday 19th January I received an out of office reply (not the first time this has happened). You would of thought he would have responded to customer issues before he took time off work or at least delegated the task. This is part of the reason this whole situation has become protracted: I am trying to find a way for my membership to work but can't, and in the meantime I can't get prompt communication to resolve, and you keep charging me! I have supplied the details you have asked for and I am happy to forward the email thread of my communications with the management at the Centre. Bearing in mind, when I first emailed the manager was away for two weeks, he then returned but was away again before I got a reply and he is now off work again. No one seems to be covering these basic communications in his absence. I have no faith in the ability of the management of the centre to resolve this issue but I will do whatever I can to get it resolved. I think Hackney may need to review who manages leisure in the borough because it really is not good enough.

Very good equipment. Everything brand new

Thank you for the response that only partially addressed my concerns. The extended membership was of no use to me because of the distance to travel and the fact that all of your local centres were overcrowded: People literally queuing to use a treadmill! Also, although you kept the club open during the refurbishment, the amount of equipment was massively reduced and much of it did not work - I have provided you with photographic evidence. The cable machines, the mainstay of my workout, were completely removed! On my last visit the water fountain was broken and the drinks vending machine was also out of order! You have continued to collect monies from me but removed the service I pay for. How can that be justified? Honestly - why do you think people complain about you? What about the danger to your young members? You totally ignored that part of my complaint. I see there is no change in your level of supervision for these young gym users.

I was called out by full arm tattoed member of staff for using diving googles covering the nose due to CPR reasons. While at the same time was offered to be allowed to use them for the rest of the day.

This is insane. How can a nose cover of diving googles violate safety standards?! They are there FOR SAFETY REASONS. To prevent any potential drowning through nostril entry. These are safety standards that make absolutely zero sense.

How many people are dying due to having worn diving googles covering the nose, and how many people of those who drowned and died did not wear diving googles with nose coverage.

I will cancel my membership and request a refund.

Great sports centre with a full range of classes throughout the day, nice gym and great pool and steam, sauna and jacuzzi, all at unbeatable price.

Good facilities, especially for price. Bit busy and not perfect but too be expected for the very reasonable price.

I was made to stand whilst signing up even though I am an amputee and I have a prosthesis and can’t stand for long. There should be a way to sign up whilst sitting down.

Stream room door broken

I received a promo email on Thursday 16/11 - with a code to be shown in my local centre and an offer to reactivate my membership for £1 + £10 fee - and got excited to reactivate my membership. I went today, 19/11 to my local centre - Clissold Leisure Centre - and had the most embarrassing and humiliating experience. I showed the email to your 'friendly' staff - who didn't even acknowledge my presence at the beginning - and was gaslit by the front door person and then by the manager (Seb) who suggested this promo is false. They then searched for my membership number and found out my profile but kept insisting that this is probably a scam - what kind of scam says to the customer to go in person and show the email?

They insisted this promo code (Better Health Centre Promo Membership) doesn't exist and they didn't receive any internal comms about it. Then they got my phone to return to me once they've confirmed with a different department. I just heard back - they said again this is invalid and suggested I block the sender. I've never experienced such a horrible experience as today, in which my credibility has been questioned by two members of your staff.

(Edit): thanks for the reply, I would like your orientation on how to proceed to use the promo.

(Edit 2): the issue was solved with the customer service team and I had my membership reinstated. Thanks for the support!

Top leisure centre and gym, great staff and super convenient facilities.

Great facilities, a relaxed mix of people, good vibes. I’m an off peak user, and generally have good access to the spaces I want to use, when I want to use them. And the staff I’ve spoken to have been professional and friendly… very happy so far. 🤓

Staff not very friendly and i had an appointment with one of the staff and went through the offices backstage. And it was quite messyand unprofessional.

From the outside, the Clisshold Better holds an abundance of promise and allure; a snazzy and spacious architectural design draws you in - but the magic sadly fades once you get past the entry gates. The first big niggle is the confusing layout of maze-like building, which is very poorly signposted. On my first visit, it took me several minutes to figure out where the sports hall was. There is only one small sign that actually shows you where each of the studio and sports spaces are located, but even that was a hassle to find. Once I figured out where I was going, boy did I regret not staying lost...

From here, I descended into the underbelly of the building, where the sports hall was located. Any small glimmer of daylight quickly plunged into greyness peppered by incandescent office-style lighting, as I made my way into the depressing basement area. It was here that I was immediately struck by an eerie pang of deja vu. And BAM...All of a sudden, it is no longer 10.20am on a mild October 2023 morning; instead it is a frosty January evening in 2006 in the bowel unit at St Mary's Hospital Paddington, where I visited my dear ailing aunt Eda...The grey walls are the same, the harsh eye-wincing lighting is the same, the smell is very nearly the same, as is the sense of impending doom as I advanced down the hall way towards the changing area. (Actually, the smell comment is a tad unfair - the changing rooms smelt faintly pooey compared to dear Aunt Eda's ward). And 3,2,1...we're back in the room...

As I found the small changing area, I was overcome by immense horror and hilarity in equal measure. Let's start with the showers...Now I have frequented many Better gyms in my time, and countless other leisure centres, but never have any of these gyms had a fully open shower area. As in there are NO PRIVATE SHOWER CUBICLES. Cue horrendous flashbacks of my Year 7 PE days. How on earth is it 2023 and there is still a leisure centre in existence that does not offer PRIVATE SHOWER CUBICLES?!! I do not enjoy showering naked in front of complete strangers, and find it hideously uncomfortable. I thought there might be some respite in different changing rooms on different floors, but nope, they're all as open as each other. Why?!!

As for the showers themselves, I went on a month-long trip to Colombia last year, and as part of this rich cultural experience, stayed two nights in a Bogotan slum. Hand on my heart, the shower in this slum was infinitely better than the ones at Clisshold Better. More pressure and more privacy.

The lockers are a law onto themselves - imagine the dingiest swimming pool lockers you encountered during childhood and imagine having to pay 20p per use for the pleasure. Who carries 20ps with them in this day and age?!!

Once I recovered from the traumatic sight of the changing room, I headed to my fitness class. The instructor was ten minutes late - no apology offered, nor did she make up the time afterwards. That aside, it was a thoroughly enjoyable class and I'd like to do it again, but ideally not at this Better gym. There are some very good instructors here but it's massively let down by the woeful sub-par facilities.

no internet signal inside the centre, so it is not possible to listen to music, search for exercises, etc.
The yoga classes are not as such, they are more stretching classes, it was very disappointing

I'm here to talk about the service given to me by the telephonist who work tirelessly to sort out any problems we may incur with any leisure centre we may use.
Amir and Anthony dealt with my problem.
Believe me when I tell you they worked tirelessly to solve my issue.
Such calmness and professionalism that I have not encountered for many a moon....
For just under an hour constantly dealing with a computer glitch that would not give in......
They prevailed !
Leisure centres come in many different forms.
I look for the service provided when a problem arises and how I'm dealt with.
This is the most important thing for me.
So I must give BETTER 💯 percent rating!
We are living in a time now when 90 percent of call centre's are in foreign soil.
I totally disagree with this.
Everytime I've dealt with this issue they have NEVER dealt with me professionally.
And only 1percent have fixed my problem.
And you have to go through 10 different people.
Thus was not the issue when I dealt with BETTER .
So thank you for Professionalism of a very high standard 👏

Rather crowded.
Some kids with bicycles and scooters inside the facility.
There should be some separation between males and females.

Great service, anyone can always help you around

Pool Water was very cold
Instructor told us to arrive at 11.45am which was not mentioned to be available when course was booked

Thank you for replying.
The broken machine is labelled by you.
Thanks

My friends and I enjoy playing badminton every weekend, and for the last three weeks, we booked courts at Clissold Leisure Center. Unfortunately, they kept canceling our bookings at the last minute, citing birthday reservations as the reason. We find this unfair since we booked the courts a week in advance. We're disappointed and might not book there again