Bannatyne Reviews 

Bannatyne Newcraighall is a very friendly gym. The staff are great, there is obviously a shortage of staff in areas that is difficult if there's not enough people. There are maintenance problems that should be dealt with sooner than they are but overall I like going here.

It’s a lovely gym, but it would be great if you could add more staff or better motivate the current team to improve the overall experience.

I’ve noticed that circuit training and body conditioning classes are missing, especially early in the morning and after 6 pm. This makes it difficult for people who work from 9:00 to 5:30 to attend, as these classes used to be available at those times.

Many of us would like the option to do an intensive workout in 30–45 minutes, but now the schedule seems to focus only on strength development, with the same routine every week. It would be nice if the program could alternate weekly to add more variety.

Additionally, it would be good to improve the cleanliness of the gym floor and the studio.

I mainly do the classes and swimming The classes are great. The instructors are all really good including the external ones who are really popular and the classes are all challenging enough but equally tailored so you can go to your level. You need to book well in advance as soon as they are available on the app to get a space though and the parking is often really busy so come early. The whole staff team are really friendly and knowledgeable but the building and carpark are a bit tired although there has been work done recently and still ongoing so is improving

The tutor is fantastic (restorative yoga) and she does well to provide a class whilst competing with the noise from the gym and/or people come out of other classes. Why Bannantynes came up with the idea to have a gym next to mindfulness studios, god only knows! Definitely a design fault. Don’t even start me on the pool and the fact that nobody gives a damn about “members” enjoyment of it in that rules seem to be made to be broken and the staff turn a blind eye…

Competitive pricing. Good selection of classes, and the staff are engaged and motivational.

Good upgrade of the gym & equipment recently. Good mix of classes although if you don't book as soon as they are released, you have slim chance of getting booked on. Staff are friendly and helpful. The changing facilities are in desperate need of upgrading to match the gym floor upgrade. The wood used in the changing rooms are rotting, the floor is beyond what any cleaner can do. The toilets are smelly and just aged, like you are back to school in the 90's!

Really enjoy being a member at the gym and a lot of good people from staff and other members make it all the more enjoyable. I do alot of the spinning classes and the biggest issue has been changing over to "The group music". Its making the classes very difficult to enjoy and if i wanted to go to a "Rave" i would tag along with my daughters at the weekend into town. Haven't met a member who enjoys the new music at all and i you can tell me the spinning classes declining in numbers and it would be good if the group listened to its members and reverted back to the music as before this change was implicated

The gym equipment has been revamped, and the changing rooms renovated, which has made the whole club feel fresher.

Gym areas have been separated out, which means some parts of the gym feel 'exclusive' to body builders & weight lifters rather than the gym being integrated, which is a shame as it detracts detracts from the friendly, inclusive environment.

There's been a recent trend for people to sit on/at pieces of equipment for long periods of time simply checking their phone. Encouraging people to be more considerate would help the gym accommodate more people.

The recent update to the app has made it more difficult to find/book classes, and really difficult to arrange a programme review with a selected instructor. The app feels driven by advertising and trying to sell 'stuff' rather than enhancing the membership experience.

The gym has good equipment and it is kept really clean compared to another gym I was at nearby! Staff are friendly, classes are often full. Things to improve would be to add more classes especially at the weekend. It was annoying that the gym closed early on Easter Friday/Monday, it would be great if it had normal hours in future and instead give the staff time off.

Too many “we are on it” stickers around, things seem to be constantly out of order

Also frustrated at the members sitting on equipment but playing with their phones, especially during busy times!

Sutton Coldfield branch is always lovely
Hannah is amazing!! Brilliant massage and pedicure, thank you

States “30 minute treatment” when I only got 15 minutes because they take off time before and after for preparation, £60 for that is such a scam!

Very disappointing experience overall.

I booked a spa day expecting a relaxing and clean environment, but unfortunately the facilities were far below what I would consider an acceptable standard. The wet areas were untidy and did not look clean, which immediately took away from the experience.

The most concerning part was that after my girlfriend’s massage, she was left with visible scratches on her back (finger nail scratches). These marks were not there before the treatment and appeared straight afterwards, which was upsetting and completely unacceptable.

Following the visit, I raised a complaint and was disappointed with the response. Rather than properly acknowledging our concerns, the issues were largely dismissed, including the scratches from the treatment (I even sent them a picture including time stamp on the image). We were offered another visit, but after this experience we have no confidence in returning.

I understand this is advertised as a health club and spa, but that should not excuse poor cleanliness standards or concerns including health and well being arising from treatments.

Sadly, this was not the relaxing spa day we paid for and expected.

I am extremely disappointed with my recent experience.

I booked a massage for two people over the phone after being clearly quoted £62 for both of us. At no point was it explained that this price was per person.

When we arrived, I asked to pay upfront and was charged £62, which matched exactly what I had been told when booking. Naturally, this gave us every reason to believe the total cost had been settled correctly.

However, when leaving, we were told we owed more, as the £62 was apparently per person. This was the first time this had ever been mentioned.

We spent around 10 minutes trying to explain the situation and even showed screenshots of the advertised price, but this was dismissed. Instead of trying to resolve things fairly, we were made to feel uncomfortable and as though we were in the wrong, despite being given misleading information from the start.

Following this, I have had numerous emails back and forth where I have been told that someone called me the day before to explain the pricing. This is simply not true. The only call I received was to inform me that there were no robes or towels available, and at no point was any pricing clarified.

At no point during booking, payment, or any follow-up communication was the correct total clearly explained, and had it been, we would not have proceeded.

This experience has left us feeling frustrated and misled. I would not return based on both the lack of pricing transparency and the way this situation was handled.

If this matter is not resolved appropriately, I will be taking further steps to escalate the issue through the relevant consumer channels.

Misrepresentation of Terms: During the sales process, I was explicitly informed in writing by the Tamworth staff, that child memberships were not subject to a long-term contract and could be cancelled with one month's notice. However, my confirmation email shows a "3 Month Direct Debit" term. This contradicts the information provided to me before I joined.

Serious Health and Safety Breach: After using the swimming pool today, both of my children developed severe red rashes not only on their faces but also across their bodies. This widespread physical reaction indicates a serious issue with the facility's hygiene or chemical balance.

I would like to see Banatynes purchase a ppl license so that music that is easier on the ear to listen to and exercise to for Aquafit classes. The establishment is very good but would benefit if different music other than exercise beat music was played for the Aquafit classes.

All members who wish to participate in the Mat Pilates classes are supposed to complete 4-6 Beginner Pilates classes first. Unfortunately, the club does not enforce that, which means that sometimes regular and long-standing members cannot secure places in the classes led by our excellent, caring and professional instructor.

This spa was disgusting, full of old men that make young girls feel uncomfortable. If you are looking for a nice spa day out this is not what you book it is not worth a penny. This spa was dirty,small, and very poor facilities

This is a large gym that effectively has a monopoly in the area, mainly because it offers facilities like a pool, jacuzzi, and sauna - its only real unique selling point.

At around £70 per month, it positions itself awkwardly as a “budget gym with a pool,” yet prices have increased three times in the past 18 months. Each time, these hikes are dressed up with announcements about “renovations” - which, in reality, feel more like basic maintenance and overdue modernisation rather than genuine improvements.

Customer service is poor. The manager relies on scripted responses and deflection rather than addressing issues meaningfully. Feedback is consistently met with excuses rather than action.

Main issues:
• Frequent equipment and facility failures (showers, lockers, pool closure, sauna, gym equipment)
• Not enough lockers at peak times
• Parking is a nightmare - the ANPR system is ineffective and doesn’t prevent misuse of the car park
• Regular price increases with little justification
• A poorly designed app that is frustrating and lacks functionality
• Spin classes are almost impossible to book due to instant overbooking
• The overall clientele has shifted and no longer feels local
• Overcrowding from spa day users, leading to limited space for members

Positives:
• Very large space (around 40,000 sqft)
• Good range of facilities: large pool, indoor/outdoor sauna, jacuzzis
• Multiple gym areas (3–4 spaces)
• Courts for badminton, tennis, and squash

Overall:
It has great potential due to its size and facilities, but persistent maintenance issues, overcrowding, poor management, and rising prices make it increasingly difficult to justify the cost.

Top notch Pilates class. We are lucky to have such a highly skilled and experienced teacher of Pilates at our club. This is a stand out class with proper guided instruction, classic Pilates and not a derivative. Highly recommend.