JD Gyms - Newcastle Benton Reviews 

Was always nervous about joining a gym, but I was made to feel very welcome and comfortable. I have met a few of the staff, but must say I am always met with a friendly face by Ali (I believe she is management staff), she is always professional, motivated and happy.

Great gym, great equipment, and really friendly staff, especially Alison who is extremely approachable and always willing to help, she goes above and beyond to keep the gym running smoothly ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

If you want a gym that is clean and where there is approachable staff then this is the place for you didn’t rate it previously however since Alison has been there there’s been a huge change in the standards definitely been a huge help to Benton adding her to management if you want stuff done talk to her if you feel like you can’t give feedback to someone else I can guarantee you can give it to Alison and she will sort it. Its such a shame not all of the gyms have a similar people working for them.Also she is the only management who is actually nice not all aggressive not everywhere needs someone barking orders she deals with staff differently.Although some decisions are out of her control.

JD GYM BENTON

I have been a member of JD Benton since opening in January and decided to try my first spin class with instructor Flo Marsh. Flo was very welcoming and supportive and has made me fall in love with spinning. Her classes are by far the best and always full. She is an excellent instructor and knows how to motivate you to get the best workout from you. Flo’s spin classes are the main reason I attend this gym, I am very disappointed they have let her go and thinking about moving my membership as the other classes are no where near as good.

I am a member of JD Gyms Benton - and want to write this review purely to warn future gym goers that if your main interest in attending a gym is spinning then to avoid this gym.
Most of the spin bikes are broken in some way or another eg. water holder broken / unable to turn up to heavier resistances, or handlebars stuck etc

The final nail in the coffin is that they are reportedly getting rid of the instructor I get the best work-out with - Flo Marsh. This means there is very little reason to remain at this gym for me.

Other classes are of reasonable quality (pump, combat etc).
Time table is reasonable with plenty of weekend classes (although with Flo going I imagine the amount of weekend classes will drastically reduce)

Absolutely would avoid if spinning is in any way important to you due to poor quality of spin bikes - and now culling of a good instructor who provides a large proportion of classes.

What can I say, the title says it all….I was invited to attend a spin class a good few years ago by my friend and at the time I was a happy member @ Byker pool. The spin classes were spot on & the instructors very professional, He insisted that I must give it a go at xercise4 less, and I thought why not. WOW I knew there & then that this gym was for me, all thanks to a absolute star Flo Marsh, they were a totally different level, her spin classes are professional well structured, she is always on hand to help any ability in setting a bike up and gives nutritional advice. What ever has gone on with the gym around Flo leaving needs rectified urgently as so many people are considering termination of their gym membership me being one !! Antony Ray

I would like to say what an excellent spin instructor Flo marsh is. I have done many spin classes with other instructors at JD and are not as professional as Flo. Some of the instructors JD has employed are awful . Totally unfit and one said she was too shy . I will be gutted if she leaves and will cancel my Benton membership if this happens asap . The spin bikes are a disgrace aswell half if them don't work and have been broken for weeks. Also the automatic doors to get in either don't work or keep shutting as I'm leaving hurting my arms .you need someone at reception all the time there's never any staff around

No more JD spin classes with Flo Marsh
Unfortunately because JD were unwilling to reconsider their harsh decision to terminate the contract of the best spin instructor they are ever likely to have, I feel I have to now downgrade my previous 5* rating for this gym.

Having followed Flo from gym to gym over the last 8-10 years I am gutted her expert knowledge and motivational skills were not better valued and the views and support of so many members meant so little to JD.

I have to give an honest review and say that I do really enjoy body combat sessions here and would also highly recommend PT sessions with Gavin Snodgrass, but in terms of spinning, all I am left with is an ever growing amount of broken bikes, and poorer instructors.

Flo is the reason I joined this gym, and sadly she will be the reason I leave.

I was a member of the gym before JD took over and left to follow Flo elsewhere, her classes are that inspiring I didn’t want to miss out. I subsequently cancelled my membership at the other gym due to the pandemic, after restrictions around COVID eased and gyms started reopening I decided to give JD a try specifically to get back to Flo’s spin classes and I’ve never looked back! Flo’s classes aren’t for the faint hearted but the way she goes above and beyond to make sure new joiners are well looked after is fantastic, she always makes a point of asking if anyone is new, making sure their bikes are set up correctly and gives them encouragement all throughout the class whilst also making the time to ensure everyone else is still working just as hard as she is! Her knowledge and enthusiasm around fitness is second to none, she’s an amazing instructor!

Formerly Xercise4Less , What a fantastic transformation since JD have taken over. Have been going to this gym for quite some time now facilities are now superb after full refresh of building and equipment.
My main focus areas being Spin classes and Body Pump and JD deliver in this respect. Quality of class instructors being great however for me one stand out mention must go to Flo Marsh, quite how she manages to keep the pace she does is unreal. Her classes are engaging, addictive and her enthusiasm provides drive to the whole class to push on, JD have a fantastic representative in her and the facilities they offer. Highly recommended, try Flo's classes if you can get a place

I have been using Benton gym for a number of years we have and had very good instructors one really stands out that is flo i am a cyclist and novices she looks after everyone needs in the class and they are always full for some reason they want to cancel flo from being a instructor,this leaves a bad taste to a lot of us members that do her classes I will consider my membership at jd if this goes ahead .

The bathrooms in the men’s changing area could do with some attention for sure.

Poor communication from management,10 spin bikes have been out of action for over two months and many more are buckled.

The instructors are worth a weight in gold but I feel they are being let down by management.

Easy to join
Clean tidy

Really easy to set up, nice gym good equipment.

Only bad things is the air con is terrible

The recent investment in this gym is terrific but I can't help feel they missed a few items which would have really pushed it to the top gym in Newcastle area. The weight tree's for example - who specced these? They don't fit the larger size plates so there are always plates all over the place. The changing rooms were refurbed but not the shower area - the gents showers run either scalding or cold and only activate for 5 seconds at a time! They removed the seated calf machine so now theres only the hammer strength version and no standing option at all. Busy times there arent enough smith machines etc ALSO can you please install a secure bike stand so I can travel to the gym on a bike and leave it securely?

Had my first gym session and i have to say i do really like it. It has plenty variation of machines. I went at 8am but i can imagine it being a struggle getting on machines later in the day.

Downside for me is the app. Im used to being able to connect to machines to track progress ect. The app doesn’t really offer much im afraid. Very basic.

There is such a huge variety of machine, minimal waiting times in peak hours, the classes are amazing, the spin studio and instructors are incredible. Especially Flo's classes.

Occasionally there are a few popular machines out of order (stairmaster is usally the big one) but most of them get fixed within the week.

It's clean and friendly and the people who go are dead canny.

Don't trust the vending machines unless there is a member of staff around as they are a bit temperomental.

Honestly I love going to this gym, i wasnt sure initially when changing from exercise for less but ive been blown away and I couldn't recommend a better gym in the area ( and I live next to the shiremoor one).

Well organised, friendly staff and good membership price. Love that you're open 24 hours

Copying and pasting the email I sent to the gym and to JD enquires, still haven’t heard anything back and I haven’t been to that gym since (JD Gym Benton) I’m not fussed if you don’t do anything about it, just acknowledge it.

Hi

I’d like the share an experience I had on the 28th February at around 9:40pm

I was using a weight machine and had finished my set, I was in the process of re racking my weights and transferring some of the weight plates to another machine.

A lady came over (member of your team) and aggressively asked if I was going to use the machine, based on her interaction with me I said no. She then proceeded to shout at me in front of everyone still in the gym telling me to “bloody put it away then” and stormed off.

Everyone, and I mean everyone in the gym stared at me.

I have never ever felt so embarrassed and belittled before in my life.

It has taken me 6 months to gain the confidence to join a gym and I have been going consistently 3/4 times a week since this gym opened and now I feel like I don’t want to go there again. I didn’t finish my work out and left.

I have seen this lady share similar interactions with people in the past - all weight re racking related. One time I see her throwing around dumbbells and narrowly missing someone’s foot.

I completely understand that having to re rack weights is annoying and if I had left multiple plates lying around I would understand her frustration but for one plate left on a machine I was going to use I find this retaliation largely unacceptable.

The employees name is … (found this info on PT board)

I really hope we can resolve this, I love this gym, it’s modern and clean and I have no other quarrels other than been embarrassed and shamed in front of everyone.

Great gym. Always can get on a machine as plenty even at peak times. Wish Benton had a sauna though