BXR London Reviews 6

Terrible business

Date of experience: July 18, 2024

This review is a one-star out of sheer disappointment, apathetic responses from BXR's management, and my concern for health and safety at BXR Canary Wharf.

Deafening noise:

Firstly, the music volume in Gareth Thoo's boxing class (publicly available information) on 26 Feb 2024 was ridiculously loud. It's not just pump-up music - it's ear-splittingly loud to the point of being dangerous enough to cause hearing damage.

I made a formal complaint about the class's music volume, but my concerns were misrepresented by the Canary Wharf site manager. Requests for clarification on the initial response were met with radio silence, which suggests complete apathy and disinterest on BXR's part in improving. BXR's regional general manager was also unhelpful in addressing my concerns and questions. BXR's publicly-listed director, Alex Nicholl, also responded unprofessionally to my concerns, which suggests systemic issues within BXR.

Overcrowding:

Gareth Thoo's boxing skills class (publicly available information) on 26 Feb 2024 was outrageously overcrowded. This, combined with the darkness (more on that later), made it impossible to follow proper boxing form.

Unwanted physical contact from class instructor Gareth Thoo:

During the boxing skills class on 26 Feb 2024, Gareth Thoo inappropriately approached me from behind and slapped my back with a moderate force. When I told Gareth Thoo not to hit me, he held onto my shoulder with his hand and refused to let go when I told him to stop touching me.

Gareth Thoo's behaviour at BXR Canary Wharf was incredibly alarming and caused me significant distress to the point where I no longer felt comfortable going to any gym for a while.

Dark lighting and disorganisation:

The BXR boxing skills class I attended had intentionally terribly dark lighting, which made it difficult to see what you were doing and avoid collisions with others in the crowded space.

Chaotic class structure:

The overall structure of the BXR boxing skills class felt chaotic and unfocused, especially given the overcrowding. It felt impossible to learn or practice proper boxing techniques in such a disorganised environment.

Unsolicited contact from Gareth Thoo:

Gareth Thoo contacted me unsolicitedly on 12 July 2024 without disclosing how he obtained my contact information. This caused me considerable distress and raises concerns about BXR's potential unlawful handling of my data.

I reported my data protection concern that same day, but I have yet to receive a substantive outcome despite the investigation being as simple as BXR asking Gareth Thoo how he obtained my personal email and what lawful basis he had for obtaining, processing, and using it.

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Closing thoughts:

BXR Canary Wharf seems more concerned with creating an Instagrammable "club" vibe than a safe and effective workout space.

The previous version of this review was deleted after it was reported by BXR. I suspect that Alex Nicholl, the publicly-listed company director for BXR, may have sought to censor this review, which contains my genuine experiences. Such attempts to suppress genuine negative experiences reflect poorly on Alex Nicholl and BXR. Attempts to censor people's genuine reviews is also be unlawful under UK consumer legislation, which protects the rights of consumers to leave honest feedback.

Given the deafening noise, overcrowding, unwanted physical contact, dark lighting, chaotic class structure, and questionable data handling, I recommend looking elsewhere if you're serious about boxing/fitness or simply want a gym that prioritises your safety and well-being.

Date of experience: February 26, 2024

I definitely recommend all of Mo’s boxing, conditioning and sparring classes! He is amazing and extremely attentive, pushing us all to our limit and motivating us during every session. Mo takes the time to ensure that our form and posture is correct, and that we take all precautions when boxing. His workouts are diverse and informative, and I have seen major progress in myself and other participants. A big thank you to Mo!!

Date of experience: October 22, 2023

Gym is tiny and with outdated equipment and broken air con but looks flashy.

Cancelled my membership in Jan and still getting billed via Amex, successfully disputing the charges every month but BXR still keeps posting the charge only for it to be refunded.

Honestly, you're infinitely better off going down the road to the Fitness First on Baker St which is much larger, functional and has a pool, if you want fancy, go to Third Space Soho.

Date of experience: April 18, 2023

Jana is super nice and helpful!
Thank you

Date of experience: January 19, 2023

Insanely good gym. I've only attended a few classes and not visited the upstairs part of the gym as of yet, but the boxing and climb to the beat classes have been two of the most sweaty and brutal I've ever attended! Very impressed.

The aesthetics of the gym really give off a luxurious vibe, and the changing rooms are the best I've visited - complete with sauna and steam room. You truly do get the whole body experience! On some days, they even give out the odd freebie such as 111skin face masks... truly lush!

Date of experience: July 01, 2022