Home / Business and Economy / Gym Members Outraged by New "Pay-to-Play" Court Access
Gym Members Outraged by New "Pay-to-Play" Court Access
10 Feb
Summary
- New £140-a-month package offers early tennis court booking.
- Standard members pay up to £3,000 annually for gym access.
- A petition at Raynes Park has garnered 342 signatures.
David Lloyd members are expressing anger over a newly trialled 'signature' package costing £140 per month. This premium tier grants users early access to book tennis courts, a day ahead of standard members. Standard members, who already pay substantial annual fees up to £3,000, argue this new system devalues their existing memberships. They claim it unfairly monetizes court booking, which is already a challenge at popular clubs.
A petition at the Raynes Park branch, a club historically associated with tennis legend Tim Henman, has gathered 342 signatures. Members voiced concerns that the 'queue jumping' feature exacerbates existing difficulties in securing court time. They assert that this premium access is not about enhanced wellness services but about prioritizing a subset of members.
David Lloyd stated the 'Signature' package is a trial for personalized health and wellness support, with limited availability. They anticipate no significant impact on court booking and noted the trial runs until the end of March across 13 of their 109 UK clubs.
