Virgin Active Barbican - a level two gym in Virgin...

Virgin Active Barbican - a level two gym in Virgin lingo - is a mixed bag with plenty of great attributes and room for improvement.

The areas that need improvement include the weights areas (regularly in disarray with plates and dumbells littered around), the cleanliness of the changing rooms (floors are soaked most of the time) and the cleanliness of the machines. The great attributes include the staff (extraordinarily friendly, efficient, helpful especially Amy at front of house who is a natural problem solver), the class schedule, the running track, the location and the large fitness rooms.

Having been to about ten Virgin Active locations in London ranging from Mayfair to Angel I can confidently say this location is huge! It features three levels, a 25 meter swimming pool, a large jacuzzi, a large cafe with sofas, an indoor a track and sauna/steam rooms in each of the two changing rooms. However the configuration of the weights and machines area is not ideal. The weights area and cardio machines are spread across different rooms, corners and sections around the running track. This causes plates and dumbells to be littered around on a regular basis.

The solution to the problems listed should be tackled by management in two fronts. First, allocate more hours of staff to circulate the gym floor and restack the weights, clean the machines and keep the floors in the changing room dry. Secondly, and equally important, educate members about gym etiquette through signage and reminders. The notice should say, "out of respect for your fellow gym goers, leave the floor space and machines better than you found them". Virgin Active Barbican is a good gym that could be great with a focus on the fundamentals of a gym operation.