David Lloyd, a gym chain charging up to £200 a month, is facing accusations of discrimination for implementing women-only spa sessions at some of its branches. The policy, which restricts male access to spa areas from 6pm to 8pm on Thursdays, was introduced at the start of October at locations including David Lloyd Purley in Croydon, Greater London.
Members at the Purley branch claim they were not consulted about the change and that their complaints have been dismissed, with the club confirming the sessions will continue. They have described the policy as a "medieval policy" that "puts the two sexes against each other."
Gymgoers were reportedly told that the women-only sessions were implemented because some female members felt uncomfortable for religious reasons. This explanation has drawn criticism, with members arguing that it unfairly penalizes all men. "When you are talking about religious purposes, I think you have to have got a duty to all," one anonymous member stated.
Members also expressed frustration over the lack of consultation and the impact on their membership. "They've not consulted at all with the members," said Sam, a 15-year member. "They put up small signage by the entrance to the spa saying they were introducing women's only sessions around four to five days before they started. A lot of people didn't even know about it. There was no email communication."
Members have not been offered a reduction in membership fees despite losing access to the spa during peak hours on Thursdays, and no equivalent men-only sessions have been proposed. "Do [David Lloyd] really expect men to accept a mid-week one-fifth reduction in their spa usage without any consultation or refund for the unavailable time?" questioned a woman in her 20s who opposed the policy.
A voluntary survey conducted among members at David Lloyd Purley found that 75% of the first 82 respondents favored restoring mixed-gender access to the spa. Only 11% wanted to retain women-only sessions, and those suggested moving them to off-peak hours.
Despite the backlash, David Lloyd has defended the move, stating that it aligns with the principles of the Equality Act 2010. A spokesperson for the company said, "At David Lloyd Clubs, we are committed to listening to our members to ensure we offer the best possible experience and to making our clubs welcoming for everyone."
The spokesperson added, "The decision to introduce a weekly, two-hour female-only spa session was made after listening to feedback from many of our members across our clubs, who expressed a need for a short period of relaxation in a space exclusively for them. The spa retreat remains fully accessible outside of these clearly signposted times."
Women-only sessions have so far been rolled out in 15 of David Lloyd's 151 gyms. The group, founded in 1982 by David Lloyd, is now owned by private equity firm TDR Capital.