It really depends what you want. Total Fitness is probably the blue print for Fitness Centres, having a nice selection of free weights in 'roid rage corner, multiple resistance machines, loads of cardio space, plus studios and regular classes, ranging from beginners spinning to Boxercise, plus a swimming pool and a jacuzzi. It is a bit pricey and they tie you into a 12 month contract that you can't get out of, regardless, which is a ballache, so it's probably best to look ahead 12 months before signing anything. Seems petty, I know, but I know a fair few people who signed up for the sake of going to a gym, then within couple of months had stopped going, moved home, gone to Uni, etc etc and still had to pay their monthly membership fee.



Hard Labour or O'Malleys are great for the old school 'weights monkey'. Interesting aside, O'Malleys was where Mike Gregory trained when he was at Warrington, and also where Davey Boy Smith trained before emigrating to Canada.



DW and David Lloyd are poor versions of Total Fitness and both place more emphasise on Customer retention and the corpate image than actually training. Don't expect any of the Fitness Instructors in any of those three to actually help you if you look a bit lost; that'd be too much like hard work for them. There is probably more work done to make the bar and chaning rooms look all nice and shiny than there is helping their members progress. They do have first rate resistance machines, but DW's actually weight area is tiny in comparison to Total and even David Lloyd. Hard Labour, I would say, is possibly the best atmosphere of all the gyms Very few regulars would have a problem giving you a hand if you need spotting or any training advice. A training programme template is available, too, and the staff have no problems helping you along the way.

www.sthelensreporter.co.uk/st-he ... 5838950.jp

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o'malleys is ok

Been a member at TF for nigh on 9yrs + never had a problem getting on any machines but even if i did there's always the running track + outside,that's if you like running.

i was a member of TF for 1 year but i gave it up, all these running tracks, machines, weights, pools and courts were making me tired and lose weight



Fat is the new thin!!!!!

muscle House Gym on bewsey ln is fanstastic

I might make myself look a tit here, but is it still open?

closed at 6

Still waiting for your input re Hard Labour....

Another vote for Hard Labour from me. Fantastic place.

Yeah 7 Days a week.. Just been done up too

grab yourself a 'bullworker' . did wonders for me.