A first look inside a new gym and health centre shows the high-end facilities and perks on offer at the £174-per-month club – as members insist it’s worth the money.
After 18 months of development, the David Lloyd in Herne Bay welcomed members for the first time on Friday, ahead of its official opening on December 2.
Members and dignitaries were welcomed with Champagne and hors d’oeuvres before the ceremonial ribbon-cutting by Canterbury’s Lord Mayor, Keji Moses, and a tour of the vast facilities.
The site at Altira Park features a state-of-the-art gym, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, padel and tennis courts and a mini football pitch.
Meanwhile, the centre’s ‘spa retreat’ boasts a Himalayan Salt sauna, steam room, ice cave, plunge pool, hydrotherapy pool and outdoor spa garden.
David Lloyd’s membership fees are more than triple those of other gyms in the area.
But asked for his first impressions, subscriber and Herne Bay resident, Ian Robb, told KentOnline the opportunities available at David Lloyd mean it is a price worth paying.
Herne Bay resident Ian Robb says the facilities and services available at David Lloyd are well worth the high monthly fees
“There’s a bit of class about it,” said Mr Robb, 41.
“It’s not just a gym and a swimming pool, it’s a way of life.
“My kids are so excited, because they’ve got Lego club and scooter club here, so I can come and use the gym and spa while the kids are kept entertained. It’s great!”
The new David Lloyd Herne Bay Club has been in development for 18 months, with a total cost of about £22 million.
In addition to the health, fitness, and wellness amenities, it also features a clubroom with a business lounge, family zone and indoor soft play area for children.
The £22-million project to build the new David Lloyd gym and health club in Herne Bay has been 18 months in the makingDavid Lloyd is the UK’s largest provider of padel ball facilitiesThe new David Lloyd gym and health club in Herne Bay has a soft play area and activities for children
In between bites of smoked salmon, Herne Bay residents Jan and Steve Claridge said they were enticed into signing up after hearing rave reviews from relatives.
“My brother and sister are both members at another David Lloyd, and when we heard there was going to be one opening here in Herne Bay, we couldn’t believe our luck,” said Mrs Claridge.
“The facilities here are of a better standard compared to other gyms around here and there’s more of a social aspect to it as well.”
Jan and Steve Claridge say the facilities at David Lloyd are of a better standard compared to the gyms they had previously usedThe new David Lloyd gym and health club in Herne Bay features multiple swimming pools inside and outsidePlush leather sofas look out onto indoor tennis courts at the new David Lloyd gym and health club in Herne BayThe outdoor swimming pool at David Lloyd gym and health club in Herne Bay
The new facilities have resulted in 75 local jobs and a partnership with Herne Bay Football Club.
General manager Michel van Heerden says community involvement is absolutely critical for David Lloyd.
“We want to be involved,” said Mr van Heerden.
“So we’ve already made partnerships with various institutions – we’ve got the Herne Bay Football Club, we’ve entered into a two-year partnership with them, we want to do something nice for the fire department.”
David Lloyd Herne Bay general manager Michel van HeerdenThe new David Lloyd gym and health club in Herne Bay features a 100+ station gymThe yoga studio at David Lloyd gym and health club at Altira Business Park in Herne Bay, near Sainsbury’s
Asked about the costly membership fees, he added: “When a member walks through the club and sees the state-of-the-art club that this is – in terms of the studios, the level of technology that’s used, the facilities – they’ll understand this is not a gym… this is David Lloyd.”