Third Space Soho — Local services in London

Any membership or service based business relies on 3 things… Customer experience, value for money and convenience. Based on this do I think Third Space is worth its £245 group monthly price tag? I’m afraid and somewhat sad to say that after 22 years as a member, currently it is not. If it wasn’t for my loyalty discount (I pay my fees yearly up front and get free weeks) I would have moved on a few years ago. *I will be referring specifically to Soho and City branches in this review.

Let’s start with the positives… Both clubs are incredibly clean and well maintained, the locker room attendants do a fantastic job. The Soho team is particularly brilliant. Equipment is always working and on the rare occasion something isn’t it’s fixed swiftly. The operations team in Soho and City are (generally) great - Jordan G, Emerson, Vinnie, Luke, Steph and Claire all stand out, there are others, I’m afraid I don’t know their names. The fitness team in Soho are (again I’m generalising) friendly and professional - Michael, Joe, Cathy, Liv, G and Adam are an asset to the club.

Which brings me to a couple of points… Soho is extremely BUSY. In all the years I’ve been a member it’s never been like it is currently. There can be moments when no equipment is free - bearing in mind I train outside of peak times mostly. I’ve heard the memberships have been capped but coupled with all the PT’s on the floors, up to 7 in a tiny area, (there have been situations where not 1 cable is free many times recently) it’s often impossible to even find a space to workout. This has also been the case in City the last few times I’ve visited. I’m aware PT’s have to train themselves at certain times, off peak but this also adds to the overcrowding. Lots of members seem unhappy about this and some of the other reviews mention it in other clubs. It all seems like a cash grab.

The general atmosphere in Soho has been particularly “Clichy” over the last few years and at times unfriendly, with some members (and occasionally PT’s) having no regard for others. Yes, I know it’s impossible to “police” and it happens but it didn’t used to be how it is now. Recently there was a very unpleasant situation in the club, some members and (as far as I know) a guest there to take part in a class were behaving in an inappropriate way, having a conversation that shouldn’t have been had in public. The team on the front desk were brilliant but when I met with the operations manager (who isn’t there any more) they pretty much dismissed it, he wasn’t even paying attention and it wasn’t followed up at all. Appalling customer service. Not what you’d expect from a business that pitches itself as being diverse, inclusive and “luxury”..? That’s why I’ve been visiting City for the last few months, which is a compact, well appointed subterranean space, that is alas also crammed with PT’s.

Such a shame to say the Soho club just isn’t what it was despite some fantastic team members and what is ultimately a great space, in a...

I’ve had a subscription with Third Space twice, but I’ve finally decided never to return.

Every morning on weekdays it was quite crowded, and I often had to queue for a shower. The gym itself was busy as well, and at certain times, there was no space available for workouts (open area on the second floor).

Their cancellation and freeze policies are terrible, and the support team is often unhelpful. Freezing your membership is inconvenient — you need to plan it far in advance, pay extra, and you can’t do it for a reasonable period (7-14 days). This is quite inconvenient if you go on holidays occasionally, as most of us do.

The cancellation process is even worse—it’s unnecessarily rigid compared to other clubs. For example, if you cancel your subscription on January 2nd, you still have to pay for February, even if you don’t use the club. I requested a bit more flexibility on this issue but was strictly denied. To justify a fee of £250.00 per month, a club supposed offer a more personalized approach (which is something Third Space lacks).

When I joined, I was overcharged due to staff negligence, specifically by Severine. Although they eventually acknowledged the mistake and adjusted it the following month, the overall experience was quite frustrating. Additionally, on multiple occasions when I forgot items in the ladies' changing room (mainly cosmetics), I was told at reception that they were never found.

The only positive aspect was Jordan, who was always helpful and welcoming.

Overall, I wouldn’t recommend Third Space after giving them a second chance.

I’d suggest considering Dilly or Hotel Café Royal nearby, which offer better value and more...

Thought I’d make this as objective as possible - to summarise, I love the place

Gym: A super well designed space with everything you’d want & even when it is busy, you have space & can access what you want in a timely manner. A gorgeous environment - two levels for free weights, big cardio area, stretch studio and then yoga and workout studio - all beautiful.

Standards / cleanliness: Superb. 👌 Really excellent. Very impressed by this

Manager: (Daren) Bent over backwards to make me feel welcome & has an infectious energy that is clearly one of the core drivers of why the place is so special & has this community feel (whilst still being a place where you can totally have your own space). 💯 goes above & beyond which makes you feel special. Third space are lucky to have Daren as he is very special.

Sales manager: Mahad showed me around & is one of the reasons I joined. I hate sales being pushed on me. He was kind, genuine & went above & beyond also - he continues to when he sees me. Great guy.

Front of house: Have been nice & welcoming! A couple of peeps in particular have been especially warm & welcoming.

Pts : Haven’t spoken to many, generally seem friendly & some are very friendly & have gone out their way to be welcoming like Emily!

There’s also natural fitness food (love) there & a space to have a coffee and a shake which is lovely.

Overall superb. Like great value for money.

Have only done a couple classes so far but they seem good. I’m there for the gym but will...