Nuffield Health Preston Fitness and Wellbeing Centre

Having been a member for over 10 years, I can honestly say that not much has changed. For a 'premium' health club that charges premium prices (with the usual yearly price hikes), we're starting to wonder whether it's worth keeping our family membership (4 users). Over the years, there’s been little investment that I’ve noticed - I've been with Nuffield since well before they took over Virgin Active. Many of the machines are still the same, or haven’t been updated in a while. There are also ongoing issues in the changing rooms, like missing hair dryers every so often or soap dispensers in the showers that don’t work. On the plus side, the staff I’ve interacted with have always been friendly and welcoming. However, more than once, when I’ve been up on the gym floor, I’ve been asked if I'm a member and had to show my card - though it’s been a while since that last happened. Cleanliness of the locker rooms + shower area is also a hit and miss. I don't have any personal experience with the classes, but I have some positive feedback about the children's pool and N Stars Nursery Area, although the latter requires additional payment after certain number of hours. Overall, it’s starting to feel like the club’s standards haven’t quite kept up with the prices.

Having been a member for over 10 years, I can honestly say that not much has changed. For a 'premium' health club that charges premium prices (with the usual yearly price hikes), we're starting to wonder whether it's worth keeping our family membership (4 users). Over the years, there’s been little investment that I’ve noticed - I've been with Nuffield since well before they took over Virgin Active. Many of the machines are still the same, or haven’t been updated in a while. There are also ongoing issues in the changing rooms, like missing hair dryers every so often or soap dispensers in the showers that don’t work. On the plus side, the staff I’ve interacted with have always been friendly and welcoming. However, more than once, when I’ve been up on the gym floor, I’ve been asked if I'm a member and had to show my card - though it’s been a while since that last happened. Cleanliness of the locker rooms + shower area is also a hit and miss. I don't have any personal experience with the classes, but I have some positive feedback about the children's pool and N Stars Nursery Area, although the latter requires additional payment after certain number of hours. Overall, it’s starting to feel like the club’s standards haven’t quite kept up with the prices.

The staff at this gym are wonderful, but that is about as much as it has going for it. Since joining this gym in May 2025, the standards have noticeably dropped. When I first joined, there was a consistent peak time at around 5-6pm. Now, that peak time seems to stretch from 4-8pm with not enough equipment throughout to facilitate the influx of new members. Obviously I understand that the upper management are trying to pack in as many members in as possible but the outdated machines and lack of free weights makes for a subpar experience at best. I am lucky enough to be on a friends and family membership which meant that I pay £51 however, I recently got an email stating that my next payment will be £63. The email justifies this by saying we have had investment into the club. This ‘investment’ however, has only included 3 new racks and a couple of kettle bells here and there. Everything else in the gym feels like it is either second hand or still there from the early 2000’s. We were told there would be stair masters by the beginning of December, but nothing. The pool area overall feels unclean, almost slimy and the steam room absolutely stinks of mould all of the time. The changing rooms are outdated, like something from a 1990’s leisure club. The showers are vile, slimy and full of hair. The lifeguards are polite and respectful but that is about it. Having spoken to many members across the gym, I know that not many are planning on staying. Nuffield Management need to find a way to make this club worth paying the hiked prices otherwise they will forcing the old members out and only staying afloat through no joining fee offers. I will be taking my membership across to another gym as soon as this membership runs out. I have already sent an email to management about this but they are not bothered about members leaving. I just got an email back basically saying ‘we have actioned this’ and nothing more. They are clearly more bothered about quick fixes and piling the gym full of people rather than creating a quality experience that means they can justify the ridiculous price. Do better Nuffield.