Dulwich Hamlets Gym or Dulwich Leisure Centre

[mattindulwich18]

I have recently given up my membership at a big inner city gym mostly due to cost. I understand there is a gym called Dulwich Hamlets locally as well as the lesiure centre on Goose Green.

Does anybody know if these places are any good, I know the Leisure centre as a swimming pool.

[AB]

Don't know much about them. Hamlets is fairly good value I think. I go to Jags at just over ?30 a month and suits me fine.

[MadWorld74]

yeah if you can wait for almost a year on the wait list at Jags!!!! I put my name down and 7 months later!!! when I was fat! they called up and said "oh are you still interested in joining?"...........

The swimming pool at the old Victorian baths is not that great. Very boxy and noisey. But it is a nice old building. Depends what kind of experience you want.

[MadWorld74]

mattindulwich, wasn't it you who also asked about PUSH Studios on this forum a few days ago? what sort of thing are you looking for?

[mattindulwich18]

Yes it was Push looks good but just investigating all means of fitness, but I could jog around Peckham Rye Common for free!!

[MadWorld74]

I run 4 times a week round most of the green spaces in the area. It always beats the gym!

[James]

I would strongly advise against Dulwich Leisure Centre. I used to be a member and kept persevering, thinking it would improve but no - broken machines and indifferent staff (often "too busy" to swipe you in yet doing next to nothing) sums up the experience. When part of the floor caved in, was roped off and wasn't fixed for weeks it was the last straw for me.

[victoriapeckham]

All the tellies have been nicked from the East Dulwich Leisure centre gym. NOt that you could use them anyhow. Because all the earphone connections between the TVs and the running machines were bust.

I quite like the gym. It has good kit. But there aren t enough staff, so no one around to ask stuff.

[mattindulwich18]

It looks like Peckham Rye Common for running and Push for the Holistic stuff I guess

[edbrummie]

Not sure what the gym is like but Hamlet has 3 squash courts which is always good and a very cheap and friendly bar.

Always good for post game refreshments :)-D

If you want to swim though has to be the leisure centre.

[Tom]

I hear the waverley on the otherside of the Rye is good.

Also - Southwark are going to refurb the Public baths - I would wait until then...!

[bawdy-nan]

I think Dulwich Leisure Centre is fine. There's quite a lot of equipment and you can also use the other fusion gyms - ie Pulse pool.

[ChavWivaLawDegree]

Plus if you go with Fusion you get all their fitness, yoga and other classes; their gyms, saunas, etc included in all of their centres accross Southwark; Seven Islands, Elephant, Camberwell, Peckham, Harris Academy and Dulwich.

[katietatie]

Hamlets is pretty good. It's not particularly fancy and has no airs and graces, but if all you want is a good workout then it's fine. I've never seen it busy to the point that you're queueing for equipment and people are really friendly in general. It's also really cheap!

[JoeChuff]

I've been using Hamlets for about four years and can recommend it highly. Very good value for money, as the last poster said never too busy and a friendly atmosphere. No pool but plenty of equipment, lots of classes (i don't use these so i don't know how good they are, but there are a fair few and you can get free access to them if you pay for the premium membership), pleasant enough decor (no plasma screen TVs etc, but no cracking white paint / stained carpets either), also a sauna. A wide range of customers, as well, you don't need to be a full-on bodybuilder to fit in. Go down and have a look!

[mattindulwich18]

I will I have been swayed by positive comments on Hamlets it beats paying nearly sixty quid for a inner city gym.

its ?25 right or ?35 prem?

[JoeChuff]

I think that's right, I pay ?25 for the basic membership. I think there is also a ?10 induction fee. Finally I can recommend spending ?25 on a one-off personal training session with Skip, the resident trainer, to get a good regimen in place.

[Quaywe]

Take Hamlets over DLC. I've been a member of both. Hamlets is all right, but nothing flash. At least you get what you pay for though. AND it has a sauna (though some of the local football member boneheads like to urinate in there on occasion!).

DLC really is understaffed and overpriced considering. The pool is tired, too busy and too small. It's nice to think you get all the extra's like use of the pool, classes etc, but when all you really want is a good gym where everything works, and helpful staff that's not what you get. Southwark Council needs to sharpen up its act. I bet they're going to spend the ?5m and none of it will go to improving customer service.

Peckham Rye park is the best option me thinks, or maybe hold out until ES Physical Health opens in a couple of months (though I think you'll pay more with them than you will in the City!).