The Best and Worst Gyms in the UK According to Customers

Energie Fitness Awarded #1 in the UK For Customer Happiness

A study here at UK Saunas has used customer reviews to determine the best gyms and fitness centres across the UK. 

The Method

The rankings have been calculated using an overall ‘happiness score’, calculated by deducting the % of Trustpilot reviews that were ‘Poor’ and ‘Bad’ from the % of reviews that were ‘Excellent’ or ‘Great’ for the biggest gyms in the UK, to see the dominating customer feelings towards each brand. 

To begin to understand the causes and correlations behind the final rankings, we recorded the average starting costs for memberships across every gym. Then, using a content analyser tool, recorded the social media engagement of each brand. This includes their customer’s replies, reactions, and comments to social media posts. 

The Findings

Overall Energie Fitness has the highest happiness score whilst Sports Direct Fitness has the lowest. The Gym Group and JD Gyms are also featured in the top 3 and interestingly are all considered ‘budget’ gyms. 

Whilst the top 3 gyms have a combined social media engagement total of 18.2K, the bottom 3 was only 3055. Leading to the conclusion that a gym that actually tailors its content for its customers and engages with them online is a more successful one – regardless of facilities and membership price.

“The research implies that a lack of luxurious facilities or unique classes doesn’t negatively impact a customer’s experience as long as they feel that they have a friendly experience and received good customer service. Membership price didn’t seem to play a factor either, but let’s put it this way – it seems that more expensive gyms don’t mean happier gym-goers.” – Spokesperson UK Saunas

Here are the final rankings:

• Energie Fitness (81% Customer Happiness Score)

  

Membership starts at £19.99 per month

• The Gym Group (71% Customer Happiness Score)

  

Membership starts at £16.99 per month

• JD Gyms (58% Customer Happiness Score)

  

Membership starts at £19.99 per month

• David Lloyd Leisure (51% Customer Happiness Score)

Membership starts at £73.50 per month

• Bannatyne Health Club (50% Customer Happiness Score)

Membership starts at £29.99 per month

• PureGym (49% Customer Happiness Score)

Membership starts at £9.99 per month

• Virgin Active (38% Customer Happiness Score)

Membership starts at £71.00 per month

• Nuffield Health (-4% Customer Happiness Score)

Membership starts at £37.00 per month

• Fitness First (-14% Customer Happiness Score)

Membership starts at £30.00 per month

• Anytime Fitness (-42% Customer Happiness Score)

Membership starts at £24.95 per month

• Village Hotel Club (-50% Customer Happiness Score)

Membership starts at £38.50 per month

• Total Fitness (-63% Customer Happiness Score)

Membership starts at £46.00 per month

• Sports Direct Fitness (-84% Customer Happiness Score)

Membership starts at £20.00 per month

Brand Social Engagement Statistics

*n/a has been stated when the recent brand engagement wasn’t high enough to be reported by Buzzsumo. 

Full Breakdown of Customer Reviews