Basingstoke's newest fitness centre Village Gym has reopend its doors after four months in lockdown.

Village Gym in Basing View only opened in January but was forced to close, along with other gyms across the nation, when the pandemic hit.

Fast-forward four months and the popular gym is back open for business.

Here is everything you need to know about Village Gym in Basingstoke: 

When is Basingstoke's Village Gym reopening? 

It reopened on July 23 after 124 days in lockdown.

In a post to its followers, they wrote: "Village Gym clubs in England are now open! We look forward to welcoming you back, to pick up where you left off and finish what you started!"

Basingstoke Gazette: The swimming pool in the Village Hotel in Basingstoke (Credit: Village Hotel) The swimming pool in the Village Hotel in Basingstoke (Credit: Village Hotel)

What safety plans are in place?

Currently, the Village gym is only allowing exisiting members of hotel guests to use its gym. This is to minimise the number of people in. thegym at any one time. 

Anyone entering the gym automatically is agreeing to make a Covid-19 health declaration to confirm that:  

  • You do not have any COVID-19 symptoms
  • You have not received a positive test in the last seven days
  • You are not waiting on a Coronavirus test result
  • That no member of your household has COVID-19 symptoms or is waiting on a test result
  • And that to the best of your knowledge you have not been in close contact with anyone who is exhibiting Coronavirus symptoms or has tested positive.

All members and guests are also expected to maintain social distancing and to keep themselves, fellow members and Village Gym staff safe by adhering to the safety advice and guidance given.

Basingstoke Gazette: The Village Gym in Basingstoke is back open (Village Gym) The Village Gym in Basingstoke is back open (Village Gym)

Are gym classes back on? 

The Village Gym has started classes again though class capacities have been reduced to allow for social distancing, meaning fewer spaces in each class. 

The classes are cleaned thoroughly before each session. 

I've tried to join the gym but I'm having problems 

The Village Gym said they are dealing with thousands of enquiries right now. " Please do bear with us and we will come back to you as soon as possible. If your question is relating to membership prices, you'll find prices and packages for your club online. Or, you'll find your club's telephone number on our website. Choose your club here," their website reads. 

Read more: Inside The Village Hotel in Basing View

Gym membership at the Village Hotel gym in Basingstoke

The cheapest option is the £35 per month off-peak package with a £50 'joining fee'. The refer a friend incentive offered at all other Village gyms around the country offer up to £15 off a month for you and your friend. Basingstoke is the only gym excluded from this offer. Instead, in Basingstoke, gym-goers are offered alcohol in exchange for signing up a pal.

The most expensive option is the £62 gold monthly package with a £50 up-front joining fee.

Or if you have money to burn, you can save money by paying upfront for a year. There is no joining fee. A gold package is £550 and the off-peak £385. 

Basingstoke Gazette: The grand opening The grand opening

What's included in the gym membership?

According to their website, all gym members -regardless of peak or off-peak - get free access to the latest Les Mills classes and Village Gym EXCLUSIVE classes

Members also have access to the heated indoor pool, the main gym and to free Gym WiFi & Sky TV.

They also give members 25 per cent off food and drink at the Village pub and grill within the hotel. 

Can I use the gym for the day?

The Village Gym is not currently offering day passes, other than member guest passes. 

Are members being refunded for the services they can't use at the moment?

In short, no. On their website, it states: "As you can appreciate, the leisure and hospitality sector has been going through a particularly difficult time, with hundreds of Village staff furloughed or made redundant.

"Despite this, over the past few months, we have invested heavily in COVID-19 safety measures, cutting-edge technology and will be operating with additional cleaning to keep you safe when you return to our Clubs.

"Plus, our fitness teams have worked hard to create free online workouts for all members to enjoy during our period of closure. We place a very high priority on keeping our our loyal members happy, but regret that we are not in a position to offer discounts or refunds for facilities that we are unable to open as a result of Government and Industry Governing Bodies' directives.

"Instead, we are adding value to your membership with a Free One Night Stay + £200 Reward for all qualifying members after reopening our Clubs, plus there's an extra £300 Reward for those members ready to re-commit to their contract. The value of these additions is far higher than the savings that would be made from a discount for unused facilities."

Refer a friend scheme

Weirdly the 'refer a friend' scheme applies to all of their gyms - except Basingstoke.

This means that. ifyou are a member of The Village Gym anywhere else in the country, you both receive a £15 or £10 saving per month on your membership.

Meanwhile in Basingstoke, you are offered a bottle of gin, a few bottles of win or 24 cans of lager instead.