David Lloyd Clubs launched its latest site at Bury St Edmunds, UK, yesterday (3 December,) which has been under construction since last year.

Facilities include a 100+ station gym featuring an Intuitive Strength Circuit; heated indoor and outdoor swimming pools; tennis, padel, badminton and pickleball courts; group exercise studios with the full range of signature David Lloyd Clubs’ classes, including Blaze, Spirit, Ign1te, Battlebox and Rebels.

There is also a luxurious adult-only Spa Retreat and Spa Garden, which includes a Himalayan salt sauna, rainforest experience shower, revitalizing citrus steam room, ice cave, plunge pool and hydrotherapy pools.

For children, there’s a multi-purpose sports hall, dedicated DL Kids rooms, an on-site crèche, an indoor soft play area and kids’ sports and coaching.

Social areas include an outdoor terrace, clubroom with family space and an adult-only business lounge serving food and drinks.

General manager, Kristen Westwood, says there has been strong interest: “The support has been fantastic and it’s great to see so many members of the local community embrace the new club and join us. It’s an honour to be general manager and I can’t wait to see our community grow.”

David Lloyd Leisure has 104 clubs in the UK and 29 clubs across mainland Europe, comprising three brands: David Lloyd Clubs, Harbour Clubs and David Lloyd Meridian Spa and Fitness in Germany. It has more than 750,000 members.

Upcoming, the company has received planning approval for a 48,000sq ft club in Herne Bay, UK at a site previously approved for a McDonalds that was later deemed viable.

Planning permission has also been applied for a new site in St Neots, UK. If approved this would be expected to launch in autumn 2025.

Top trends for 2025

As the year draws to a close, David Lloyd Clubs’ team of experts have also outlined their top trend predictions for 2025.

Spirituality

Top of the list is spirituality and meditative practices, such as mindfulness, meditation as well as ecstatic dance – liberated dancing which provides an emotional and physical release.

David Lloyd Clubs is responding to the trend with Spirit dance meditation: a group exercise class where participants wear headphones and use music and movement to help them clear their minds and ground them in the present moment.

Michelle Dand, head of fitness programming at David Lloyd Clubs, says: “This allows your body to lead the movement, rather than your head. Our lives can be so overwhelming, and in a dance meditation class, you feel like you’re taking control of yourself again.”

Sleep hygiene

Quality of sleep is directly linked to overall health, cognitive function, and physical recovery, however, since the pandemic increasing numbers of people are reporting sleep issues. Studies estimate that between 10 and 30 per cent of the world’s population are experiencing difficulties with sleeping.

David Lloyd Clubs is upskilling its personal trainers to help support members in areas such as sleep, stress management and nutrition and has partnered with Kathryn Pinkham, founder of the Insomnia Clinic, to offer the Sleep Well and Live Better course, providing members with in-depth strategies to improve sleep.

Lucy Day, head of gym and sports at David Lloyd Clubs says: "In today's wellness landscape, the role of a personal trainer has expanded significantly. It’s no longer just about physical conditioning; trainers now play a pivotal part in guiding clients toward sustainable, whole-body health."

AI fitness solutions

A subject currently getting a lot of air time, it is inevitable that AI will be increasingly incorporated into personal training and workouts, with the perfect balance of technology and human input being sought.

David Lloyd Clubs is investing in the Body Hub technology at all its clubs: members enter health data and goals before undergoing a full body scan to discover their biological age and receiving a comprehensive health and fitness report that will allow them to make personalised lifestyle adjustments based on their genetic makeup.

Next year a bespoke AI programme accessed via the Body Hub will be introduced, providing an AI driven workout based on the equipment at each site and making it tailored to each individual and super intuitive.

Recovery

Post-workout recovery is now front of mind in the wellness space, allowing members to walk away from their workouts feeling refreshed and recharged. David Lloyd Clubs are offering percussion therapy to help boost circulation and aid recovery, and hydro massage chairs are being introduced at selected clubs, as well as hot and cold therapy at the Spa Retreats.

The social revolution

Health clubs are increasingly becoming a place to socialise and parents are looking for ways to connect with their children. A recent study from David Lloyd Clubs looked into dads in particular and how they want to sspend more time with their children, but face barriers.

To help families to spend time together in a fun and healthy way, David Lloyd Clubs recently launched Rebels – a family-friendly adaptation of the company’s range of group exercise classes which allow parents and children aged between eight and 13 to work out together.

As club visits are now part of the lifestyle, blending health, work, and social connection, David Lloyd Clubs is investing in its social spaces, such as co-working spaces, Padel courts, poolside bars and the spas.

Hormone health and cycle tracking

People are increasingly recognising the importance of listening to the body and shaping fitness routines around it.

According to the NHS, male menopause is also an issue, with men experiencing depression, loss of muscle mass, difficulty sleeping and fat redistribution in their late 40s to early 50s. This needs to be taken into account when planning fitness programmes, ensuring adequate weight training to build strength.

David Lloyd Clubs have partnered with Hertility to offer discounts to members on home hormone and fertility testing.

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