Members of the David Lloyd club in Purley are accusing the gym chain of gender discrimination. The controversy centers on new Thursday evening spa hours reserved exclusively for women, which began in October.
The £200 monthly membership and the Thursday 6-8 pm ban
The dispute at the David Lloyd club in Croydon, Greater London, stems from a policy change that restricts male access to the spa during peak evening hours. Specifically, the gym has implemented women-only sessions from six to eight pm every Thursday. as the Daily Mail reported, these changes went into effect at the start of October, leaving some male members feeling sidelined during their primary post-work leisure window.
For many members, the frustration is compounded by the high cost of entry. David Lloyd is an exclusive chain that charges membership fees reaching approximately £200 per month. members argue that paying a premium price should guarantee consistent access to facilities, and the sudden removal of spa access for men during these hours is viewed as a breach of the value proposition offered by the Purley club.
Religious sensitivities and the divide at the Purley club
The justification for the segregation of spa hours is rooted in cultural and religious accommodation. According to the report, gym staff informed complaining members that the women-only sessions were introduced because some female members expressed discomfort around men for religious reasons. This move highlights a growing tension in private fitness clubs as they attempt to balance the needs of a diverse, multicultural membership base with the expectations of equality.
However, this attempt at inclusivity has created a different kind of friction. Some male members have described the policy as "medieval," claiming it fosters gender antagonism rather than harmony. The situation reflects a broader societal struggle :how private entities can accommodate specific religious requirements—such as those of Muslim women—without penalizing other paying customers or creating a segregated environment that feels discriminatory to the majority .
Why 75% of surveyed members want mixed access restored
The level of dissatisfaction at the Purley branch is reflected in a grassroots data effort.. An online survey organized by a club member found that 75% of the first 82 respondents believe the spa should return to mixed-gender access. A smaller segment, roughly 11%, suggested that the women-only sessions should be shifted to off-peak hours to avoid conflicting with the schedules of the general membership.
Interestingly, the divide is not strictly along gender lines. The survey revealed that some women at the David Lloyd club also oppose the current arrangement, citing their own concerns regarding fairness and equality. this suggests that the controversy is not merely a "men versus women" conflict, but a disagreement over how a private club should manage shared spaces and whether segregation is an appropriate tool for conflict resolution.
The silence from David Lloyd and the missing fee reductions
A significant point of contention remains the lack of corporate transparency and financial adjustment. Male members at the Purley club claim they were not consulted before the October rollout and that communication was limited to a small notice posted near the spa entrance. Furthermore, no reduction in membership fees has been offered to those who have lost access to the facilities during the restricted Thursday window.
As of the latest reports, David Lloyd has yet to issue a public response to these allegations of discrimination. this leaves several critical questions unanswered: Will the gym chain introduce equivalent men-only sessions to ensure parity? Is this a pilot program that will be expanded to other David Lloyd branches across the UK? Most importantly, will the company offer partial refunds or credits to members whose access has been curtailed?
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