A row has erupted at one of Britain’s leading leisure clubs over a £140-a-month “queue-jumping” pass that allows premium members to book tennis courts first.
Hundreds of disgruntled members at David Lloyd Raynes Park in southwest London have signed a petition demanding that the club scraps preferential booking rights for its new “Signature” membership tier.
The online petition, launched on Change.org on January 29 by Mark Smith, a club member, has attracted 331 signatures, with a target of 500. It argues that court availability is “already severely constrained”, with members often struggling to secure slots.
The introduction of the Signature tier, on trial at selected clubs from January to March, grants holders up to ten days’ advance booking for tennis courts, compared with nine days for standard members. It costs an extra £140 a month on top of regular fees of up to £3,000 a year.
A David Lloyd club in Maidenhead, Berkshire
MAUREEN MCLEAN/ALAMY
The petition contends that although David Lloyd promotes the tier as a wellness-focused upgrade, with longevity assessments and premium health services, the real draw is the extended booking window.
“At David Lloyd Raynes Park, court demand already exceeds supply and access is already under significant pressure,” the petition states. It calls for the removal of the advance booking rights to ensure “fair and reasonable access to shared tennis facilities”.
The controversy highlights broader tensions in the leisure industry, where high-end clubs such as David Lloyd, founded in 1982 by the former British Davis Cup player David Lloyd and now owned by the private equity firm TDR Capital, face balancing profitability with member satisfaction.
Membership at Raynes Park, which has ten indoor and outdoor tennis courts as well as pools, gyms and spas, has surged amid a post-pandemic fitness boom and growing interest in racket sports including tennis and padel.
Lloyd’s brother Tony Lloyd is reported to coach tennis at the Raynes Park site and David Lloyd trained Tim Henman there. Judy Murray, Andy Murray’s mother, has visited to give tips to youngsters and coaches, and Boris Becker played at a charity event there against Sue Barker.
David Lloyd with Tim Henman (right) at the Raynes Park centre
TED BLACKBROW/DAILY MAIL/SHUTTERSTOCK
Supporters of the petition have shared their frustrations on Change.org. Doreen from Wandsworth described tennis at the club as central to her “wellbeing, community and friendships”, adding that she learned to play the sport there.
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Madeline from London wrote: “It’s already very difficult to book tennis courts and classes like padel and pilates without this tier — it feels like a snub to loyal members paying high fees.”
Fiona from Sheffield also expressed dismay. “It’s sad that after more than ten years, the club seems to have lost sight of its members in pursuit of profit margins,” she wrote.
The trial is operating at 13 of the 109 David Lloyd clubs across the country. One member of another club, who did not want to be named, threatened to quit if it were extended to her club. She said: “They don’t seem to understand how annoying it is to allow others to jump the queue when we are already paying so much.
“I was already unhappy with the club over a separate issue with allowing the swimming pool to be let for outside classes at the weekend and now they might do this. I will reconsider my membership if this scheme comes to our club.”
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A spokeswoman for David Lloyd Clubs said: “We offer a range of membership packages designed to suit different needs and budgets. We are currently trialling a new Signature package, created to provide personalised health and wellness support. Only a very small number of these memberships are available, so we don’t anticipate any meaningful impact on court booking availability.”
The trial’s outcome remains uncertain but those who have signed the petition hope their campaign will influence the final decision. As one anonymous member wrote: “This isn’t about exclusivity; it’s about basic fairness in a shared space.”