If I was able to give -5*, I would.
Firstly, I don’t believe any of this is the fault of the staff at PureGym Stockport South. I’m sure they do their best — but the real issue seems to be poor decisions from senior leadership and underinvestment in this site.
I joined at the end of November 2025 after moving to Stockport. The location is incredibly convenient (5 minutes from my home) and I was excited to join… but within the first week I knew it wasn’t going to be great.
The equipment is in an atrocious state. Much of it feels like it needs replacing, and some machines simply need basic maintenance (tightening, repairs, etc). It’s bad enough that it impacts tracking progression because resistance can vary day to day. That’s unacceptable.
The gym is also filthy. Machines are visibly dirty over multiple days, some equipment is rusty, and the mats look like they’ve never been properly cleaned or replaced. I’m not overly picky — but this is unhygienic to the point of feeling like a biohazard. I even saw someone in the changing rooms with what looked like ringworm.
The changing rooms and toilets are just as bad: rubbish left in lockers, powder everywhere, showers that stink and appear stained, broken locks, hair in sinks, and urine-covered toilet seats. I ended up wearing sliders just to avoid touching the floor.
It’s also unbearably busy most of the day unless you go extremely early. There’s a heavy focus on classes with music blasting at deafening volume, and because the studio isn’t properly separated, the sound travels across the whole gym.
Classes also take place in the functional area, which is disruptive because it’s where the only two power racks are. The classes are often listed as being in the studio, but they aren’t — and I’ve been told to leave the area even when it wasn’t advertised. I have a job and a routine, and I should be able to plan my training around accurate timetables.
Member behaviour is also poor. People refuse to let others work in on machines, hog equipment for long periods, and treat the kit badly. I’ve also had items go missing from lockers with no real help from staff.
On top of that, I had serious data protection concerns: my personal details were left visible in the office, and after submitting a feedback survey my name and email were shared to management without consent, who then contacted me directly. When I raised it with head office I was basically told it was my fault.
Finally, I was threatened by another member over a misunderstanding. Management initially took it seriously, but the fact it happened at all made me feel unsafe.
This gym needs serious improvement. I’ve now rejoined The Gym Group and the difference is night and day.
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