Vie Health Club

Knocking this place down to a three star because 4 months after I cancelled my membership I got an email telling me I owed them over £300 for the last 3 months and that they were contacting their debt collector. All this after I gave them a months notice that I was leaving in the 11 month of my 12 month contract.

Joined this gym last month for £42 a month, which includes a corporate discount I get through work. I think normally it’s around £47 which I think is quite affordable compared to other gyms I’ve looked at. This isn’t the fanciest gym I’ve ever been a member of, but it still has everything you need for a good workout. Only thing it could use are more resistance training machines. There’s quite a limited selection, however plenty of cardio machines available and lots of classes throughout the day as well as a free weight area. The fact that this gym has a pool though at no extra cost on your membership is a huuuuuge plus and it never seems that crowded in the evening. Change room facilities are really good (I don’t know about the guys, but the ladies one is good) has a sauna, blowdryers, and shower facilities. Some of the lockers could use some tending to because they’re broken, but not a huge deal. The staff are always really friendly and helpful and the environment overall is really chilled out. I’d definitely recommend this gym. Two thumbs up! :)

I’m a member of this gym simply because of it’s location and I would advise anyone considering it to make sure it’s their only option before they commit.
It smells, the staff can be quite rude and the machines are old and not well maintained. Half of the treadmills are old and unpleasant to use — there are only 3 decent treadmills in working order currently and at busy times it’s impossible to get on one…
At the free fitness assessment I had upon joining, the trainer didn’t ask me a single question about my health, history, goals etc — just gave me a plan and showed me how to do each exercise. It was fine, but I felt it could have been better related to me specifically.
There is a pool though, albeit a small one…

Amazing amount of classes and always able to get on a machine

Awful.
Place is small, dirty and unhygenic.
The few showers there are regularly break down (which can be very inconvenient if you’ve come in to use the gym before work).
Also more crowded than most gyms at peak times.
The equipment is outdated, the facilities sub-​standard.
Shocking customer service (due to a mix up they recieved an extra payment which they then refused to refund)
For all this they charge more than most standard membership fees.
Don’t make my mistake, walk the extra 5 minutes and go to a proper gym.

Please bear in mind, this is a review of one of the classes of this health club, not the health club itself.
I attended a Roger Gracie BJJ class at this gym and compared to the Ladbroke Grove Roger Gracie branch, it was not up to par.
There was nothing wrong with the people, it was just the general atmosphere I did not like.
Firstly, the class is located in the basement which is small, dark and cramped.
Secondly, the class has a very serious atmosphere, which I believe stems from the instructor, who himself comes across very serious… didn’t smile once when I was there even when I tried to crack a joke with him (maybe I’m just not as funny as I think I am).
Also, although I introduced myself to the instructor as an absolute beginner, during the warm up drills he did not explain anything to me, and pretty much left me to my own devices. After the drills, he asked a student to take me aside to teach me one-​on-​one while he taught the class more advanced techniques. I personally thought it wasn’t fair on the student teaching me.
Moreover, as it was my introduction class, I did not have a BJJ Gi (uniform), so the student teaching me picked up from the floor someone else’s sweat drenched Gi top for me to wear… ergh!
To be fair though, this branch of the Roger Gracie Academy must be doing well since the class was so full. But my first experience with this class leads me to believe that it is not a friendly place for absolute beginners.

Vie Health Clubs is probably the best gym I have been a member of because they really care about your health and fitness and individually help you with your goals. I have been a member for nearly 7 months and I am on a flexible membership which allows me only to have to give 30 days cancellation notice. It is a very reasonable price considering how much you get for it
My favourites are definately the classes which are never overly full and there is such a great vareity. Men and women are made to feel welcome in them all. They have even started a belly dancing class this month which I may have to try.
Vie is definately the best gym in the Farringdon area as it is not just a gym it is a health club that goes out of its way to get you motivated and acheive your goals. I recommend it to you.

Power plates are G-d’s gifts to butt-​size reduction. Whoever introduced this technology to modern civilisation is the lazy man’s savior. Vie Health Clubs carries this most formidable fitness machine advancement. They also do regular gym stuff. Aerobics, treadmills, personal trainers — if you need to get rid of your extra chin then you’ll have a good chance of success if you exercise here. Their prices aren’t ludicrously expensive (from £30-£100 per month). The venue is an insular health-​haven, located in the basement of a Victorian building. You can’t run away from getting fit here. You have to face it.

Salle d’artis martiaux et de musculation, possibilité de faire du fitness et de se faire masser par le personnel très charmant.

I generally agree with kwal80, although they have got some new cardio machines in now and a guy permanently cleaning and deodourising. The place still smells though, they probably shouldn’t have let it get like that in the first place, which is a symptom of what’s wrong with the gym, nobody gives a damn.
They had a steam room when I first joined but that hasn’t worked for a couple of years. Sauna goes off now and again, showers are either scalding or freezing. The boxing gloves stink to high heaven and I got a flea bite from them once.
They could simply disinfect them periodically to prevent this but none of the staff care a fig about the place or the customers. Nothing IS too much trouble for these guys.
Equipment is fixed or replaced as it falls apart, routine maintenance is a complete anathema here.
The music that they play is absolutely moronic and suitable only for the brain dead, but again nobody gives a shoot about what the customers might want. I’m led to believe they actually paid a guy from Australia to spray grafitti all over the place as decoration — instead of breaking his wrists and spending the money on real improvements — bizzare!
I continue to use the place because it’s just round the corner and they’ve nominally got all of the equpment I want, however I really think I should get my head together and walk up to LA Fitness on Theobalds road. I used to use the LA Fitness gym along Leather Lane before it closed down, and as I remember, it makes Vie look like the third World, third rate dump that it is. Yes, I must move on.

I joined Vie a couple of years ago and let my membership run out quite quickly. I joined because it was the cheapest around and it seemed to have everything I needed.
It wasn’t long before it was painfully clear that you get what you pay for where gym membership is concerned. The cardio equipment was all quite old and run-​down looking and the same goes for the weights stuff too. The work out spaces are quite cramped, so I ended up going last thing at night to get a bit of space. Another bugbear of mine was that they would hold the circuit class on the cardio equipment, meaning that you couldn’t use any of it whilst it was going on. All this, combined with the damp smell, meant that working out became so much more of a chore.
The staff were generally friendly enough, but some would get quite rude if under pressure.