David Lloyd shuts down pool to save energy as costs rise

David Lloyd shuts down pool to save energy: Fitness firm becomes latest to take ‘exceptional measure’ to survive cost of living

• A David Lloyd Club has told members it will close their outdoor pool due to costs
• Members in Exeter were told the club needs to reduce its energy consumption 
• Other gyms across the UK have already closed pools and jacuzzies to cut costs

One of Britain’s biggest fitness firm David Lloyd has been hit by the energy crisis, its Exeter club confirmed it is being forced to ‘temporarily shut’ its heated outdoor pool. 

The firm said it is an ‘exceptional measure, for exceptional times’ and the pool closure will be closed from Monday ‘for the coming months’.

It’s not clear if other clubs in the David Lloyd empire will follow suit.

A David Lloyd membership package can cost more than one hundred pounds a month, but rising costs have still made it unaffordable to provide all their services. 

Outdoor pools use energy to remain heated in the cold winter months to stop their members getting goosepimples.

The firm said ‘We all need to do our bit’ and described it as a ‘difficult decision’ they are taking to reduce energy consumption at the club.

Members of David Lloyd Clubs in Exeter were told the heated outdoor pool (pictured) will be closed from next Monday in order to reduce energy consumption

The temporary closure at David Lloyd in Exeter is also due to reduced usage of the outdoor pool in the autumn and winter

The temporary closure is also due to reduced usage of the outdoor pool in the autumn and winter.

An email from Greg Fanning, general manager of David Lloyd Exeter, said: ‘I hope you’re keeping well and continuing to enjoy the Club.

‘The challenges from the energy crisis continue to affect us all and there are some steps we need to take to reduce energy consumption at the Club.

‘Prioritising our health and well-being has never been more important and we want to continue offering the best service we can.

‘However, as each and every one of us knows, we all need to do our bit to reduce energy consumption where we can.

‘The outdoor pool is used far less in autumn and wintertime.

‘So, we’ve taken the difficult decision to temporarily close the outdoor pool, on Monday 17 October.

‘If you’re one of the brave souls who enjoys an outdoor dip, I appreciate this isn’t good news.

‘Heating the outdoor pool in autumn and wintertime uses a significant amount of energy and this short-term measure, will make an immediate difference.

‘It’s an exceptional measure, for exceptional times. The heated indoor pool remains open year-round, for you to enjoy a refreshing dip.’

The firm said it is an ‘exceptional measure, for exceptional times’ and the pool closure will be closed from Monday ‘for the coming months’

Nuffield Health has told its members that its 72 Jacuzzis will stop running until spring to save energy at gyms which face ‘considerable’ price hikes

Earlier this month another health centre told its members that its 72 Jacuzzis will stop running until spring to save energy at gyms.

Nuffield Health, which owns 114 gyms with pools, charges customers up to £63 a month to use its sites.

In its letter to customers, Nuffield Health said: ‘This is to ensure we can conserve energy and allows us to keep our swimming pool, sauna and steam room open and we know that our members highly value and benefit from these facilities.’

The note said Nuffield gyms used a ‘significant amount of energy’ and had been faced with ‘considerable’ rising energy costs.

It added that future measures could be introduced if demanded by the energy crisis.

Greenwich Leisure Limited, a London-based organisation which runs over 250 sport and leisure facilities, has reduced pool temperatures by an average of 1C to cut costs.

There is also a possibility that they may restrict the opening hours of the sauna.

Pool operators in Europe have faced similar pressures to those in the UK. This month it emerged that dozens of public pools in France had been closed because they were too expensive to keep open.

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