A members club, just not for the members.
I joined 2 years ago (but have left now) believing an expensive health club would prioritise it's membership and do everything to look after them. How wrong I was. Let me list how this club prioritises the people that work at it, use it and pay for it, because, be in no doubt, those that pay for it come a very distant last. The priority at Nizels is it's staff. Management think nothing of closing an entire side of the pool at the peak lunch time session, when those of us working can attempt to grab a quick swim, to introduce new staff to water safety. Lane swimmers were herded into the general bobbing area, which was already heavily overcrowded with bobbers and slow walkers, much to everyone's frustration. No more swimming allowed. And it is clear, overcrowding is a common theme at Nizels which I'll come onto.
Management let staff use the facilities whenever they like as well - there are no non staff-times, including the grounds team who come into the changing rooms, with filthy clothes and muddy boots (very considerate), before entering the pool (being used by paying members) without showering, which is required, or using the already overcrowded (with paying members) gym. The spa area is a particular favourite, which is particularly undelightful on a hot sunny day. You'd think staff would at least shower before entering the pool and spa as the signs request - fat chance. It gets worse. It is common knowledge that staff let their family and their mates in for free, to use the club. Say "Alfie's" sister works on reception, she'll let him in and two of his mates, no problem whatsoever.
Anyway, back to the pool where the common courtesy of showering before using it, is a concept alien to most, particularly the more elderly members, ladies included, who gather in large numbers to engage in aqua classes. The aroma can only be described as, well, um, "pungent"!. That however pales in comparison to the smells in the men's changing room and steam room, which resemble an open sewer more than an up market health club. Drainage has long been an issue at Nizels it seems, with frequent blockages caused by the massively increased membership, lured in by endless special deals such as 10 sessions for £180, children under 5 for free or 5 sessions for £15 within 2 weeks, which are amongst the most recent. Still, at least management are trying to reduce the number of non members using Nizels. They are only after all number 2 on their list of priorities, after the staff. The swimming pool is a favourite for non members to bring their (non member) children for lessons, where again, large areas are roped off for 3 hours at peak times every week day so that children from babies up can be inflicted upon those members who had the cheek to think they might get a swim in before heading back to work. Or home. What's surprising is that more children have not been traumatised by the pool which resembles a very potholed road, such are the gaps where the tiles have come away allowing white tile cement and grout to seep endlessly into the water. Still no one showers when using the pool, so the white grit probably enhances the overall experience.
Turning to the showers. Well don't expect one is the best advice or time it right. If you want one, just ensure no one else is using them or the weak spray turns into a trickle or worse, nothing at all.
School holidays are a time to avoid Nizels. The special offers, already mentioned, also come thick and fast to coincide with the long summer holidays and usually last the 6-8 weeks needed. Phew! This allows parents to dump their children at the club, whilst they either drink coffee with other temporary members, attend the odd class or leave the premises entirely. As a result the pool and gym are often full of unsupervised children, where the minimum age requirement is blatantly ignored. This throws up all sorts of safeguarding issues, although management don't appear concerned. They're probably too busy closing the pool for the latest new batch of staff to undergo water safety training.
Parking is another challenge at Nizels. Wo betide you if you happen to be disabled, because the five spaces available for blue badge holders are usually occupied by contractors vans (probably plumbers failing to deal with the drainage), huge SUV's carrying children, despite the 16 child spaces, or those who simply ignore the signs stating the space is for blue badge holders. Of course management do nothing to monitor or enforce their own rules, meaning several disabled members are forced into long walks across the permanently full car park to get to the entrance.
Finally, at number 3, we get to the members, those who pay the £125 pm for what they believed would be a premier private members club experience, which is anything but. Are you listening David Lloyd?