Gym group Nuffield Health closes jacuzzis due to rising energy costs

A leisure chain has closed its spa pools to members due to rising energy costs.

Nuffield Health, which operates 114 gyms throughout the UK, revealed they will close their jacuzzis from Monday for six months – but will keep membership prices the same.

The chain group, where a monthly membership starts from £50, has written to customers to explain the move and warned that “other measures” may have to be taken over the coming months.

In an email shared with STV News, the company said: “I’m writing to let you know that we will be temporarily closing our spa pools from Monday, October 3, for the autumn and winter months.

“This is to ensure that we can conserve energy and allows us to keep our swimming pool, sauna and steam room open as we know that our members highly value and benefit from these facilities.

“Our fitness and wellbeing centres use a significant amount of energy and like you, we’ve been faced with considerable rising utilities costs throughout this year.

“Our spa pools are expensive to heat and run and simply switching these off across our nationwide network of centres goes a long way towards reducing our overall energy consumption.

“We’re committed to helping you achieve your health and wellbeing goals and we have this front of mind when we’re making difficult decisions about how we conserve our energy to keep costs down.

“As the energy crisis unfolds, we may need to consider other measures, but we will keep you informed.”

Members shouldn’t have to shoulder the costs of Nuffield Health’s energy bills.
Nuffield Health member

One disgruntled member, who did not wish to be named, said the decision to continue to charge members full price while reducing services was “frustrating”.

They told STV News: “While I understand the energy crisis is affecting everyone, to reduce a service for six months without any financial compensation to members is frustrating.

“Gym membership is a luxury as it is in the current economic climate and members shouldn’t have to shoulder the costs of Nuffield Health’s energy bills.”

The announcement comes after leisure facilities warned of mass swimming pool closures across Scotland due to energy price hikes and chlorine shortages.

Insolvency aid organisation CompanyDebt dubbed the threat to the UK’s community pools “poolmageddon”, warning that the majority of public leisure facilities could be forced to close their doors within the next six months.