Lifestyle

04th Jan 2017

The Definitive Guide To Joining A Gym In Dublin

Liz

New year, new you, right?

One of the most popular New Year’s Resolutions year after year is the resolution to lose weight and get fit.

Joining a gym is generally the first step on this journey but finding the right facility is key to success.

Depending on where you live, joining a gym in town might be your best bet. It’s easier to visit after work, and most of the public transport goes in that direction.

Here’s a list of the seven biggest gyms in Dublin City Centre, information about their facilities and a comparison of their pros and cons.

So, before you drop a huge amount of money, check out what’s on offer.

FLYEfit

Where:

28-36 Ranelagh Road, Ranelagh, Dublin 6
15-16 Lower Baggot Street, Dublin 2
32F Macken Street, Grand Canal Dock, Dublin 2
63 South Great George’s Street, Dublin 2
8 Harrington Street, South Circular Road, Portobello, Dublin 8
Sandyford Road, Dundrum, Dublin 16
Nevinstown Lane, Airside Retail Park, Swords, Co. Dublin

Facilities: Fully equipped gym

Membership Costs: For one specific gym, either €29 a month or €259 a year, or for access to all €32 a month or €299 for the year

Notice Period: 72 hours before monthly payment. Can only get a refund on the payment for the year if you cancel within 14 days

Pros: One of the cheapest gyms available, all gyms open 24 hours apart from Baggot Street and Dundrum, lots of locations

Cons: Can be very busy at peak times, no frills

West Wood

Where:

Leopardstown Racecourse, Co Dublin
Clontarf Road, Dublin 3
1a St John’s Road, Sandymount, Dublin 4

Facilities: Cardio, resistance and free-weight gyms, pools and tennis courts in Leopardstown and Clontarf, cafés in Leopardstown and Clontarf, climbing walls in Clontarf and Sandymount, spas in all three gyms

Membership Costs: €25-€75 a month depending on package

Notice Period: Cancel before next direct debit payment

Pros: Includes the gyms in Leopardstown, Sandymount and Clontarf, plus a gym in Dun Laoghaire is being added, good facilities

Cons: Kids allowed, not as easily accessible as some other locations

Ben Dunne Gyms

Where:

Jervis Street, Dublin 1
Kimmage Road West, Terenure, Dublin 12
Cherrywood Bus Park, Dublin 18
Ballyowen Lane, Lucan, Co Dublin
Santry, Dublin 9
Beacon Shopping Centre, Dublin 18
Blanchardstown, Dublin 15

Facilities: Fully equipped gym, plus some gyms have pools

Membership Costs: €18.95 – €29 a month (plus a €25 – €29 joining fee) and €195 – €245 a year, depending on which gym you join

Notice Period: Must cancel at least two weeks before next monthly payment. Upfront memberships can only be suspended for a maximum of six months on medical grounds.

Pros: Cheap and central

Cons: No ability to use other Ben Dunne gyms with membership, busy at peak times

Energie Fitness

Where:

41-42 Clarendon Street, Dublin 2
The Oval Building, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4
Applewood Village, Swords, Co Dublin
Nutgrove Retail Park, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14
The Retail Plaza, Parkwest, Dublin 12

Facilities: Fully equipped gym, and pool, sauna, and steam room (except for Ballsbridge, which has a spa area instead)

Membership Costs: €41 per month or €410 for the year for the Clarendon branch, or €59 a month or €590 a year for access to every branch. Contact individual branches for their membership prices.

Notice Period: There’s a 3-month minimum commitment, then 30 days notice for cancelling monthly payments. There’s no refunds for cancelling a year’s membership unless you don’t see results after doing the 30-day Empower Programme.

Pros: Fitness programme included in membership cost

Cons: Closes at 5pm on the weekends, kids allowed

RAW Gyms

Where:

7 South Richmond Street, Portobello, Dublin 2
2 Burton Hall Road, Sandyford, Dublin 18

Facilities: Fully equipped gym

Membership Costs: €365 for the year, €44 – €49 depending on location (student discounts available)

Notice Period: Cancel at least five working days before next payment

Pros: Free parking and over 16s

Cons: No frills

Spencer Health Club

Where: Excise Walk, North Dock, Dublin 1

Facilities: Fully equipped gym, 18-metre swimming pool, sauna, steam room, Jacuzzi

Membership Costs: From €60 per month (plus a €50 joining fee) to €650 upfront for a full year’s membership

Notice Period: One month’s notice to cancel, unless it is due to medical/redundancy reasons (in which case immediate cancellation is possible if supported with documentation)

Pros: 10% discount for members in East Restaurant, 10% discount for members in Viola Day Spa

Cons: Only open until 7.30pm on the weekends, kids allowed, parking extra