Strength Lab Company, Swansea
I attended Strength Lab at Croft Industrial Estate twice a week for one hour per session (mornings) from June 2025 until end of May 2026, paying £12.50 per session. This worked out at around £100 per month for small-group training sessions with a maximum of six participants.
The trainer is a friendly and knowledgeable individual who demonstrates how to use gym equipment correctly and provides encouragement throughout each session. The training was beneficial to some extent, and I would often feel muscle soreness the following day. However, the sessions rarely elevated my heart rate enough to provide a significant cardiovascular workout.
Cost
At the end of April 2026, the session price increased from £12.50 to £15.00 due to rising utility costs. This brought my monthly training costs to approximately £135 for two sessions per week. While I felt this increase was initially reasonable, I later found it confusing when the trainer mentioned that his running costs were actually quite low.
On several occasions, he also spoke about introducing new and exciting training routines, but these never materialised. Given the monthly cost, I expected more variety and progression. In reality, the workouts remained largely unchanged throughout the year I attended, becoming repetitive and uninspiring over time.
Cleanliness
The gym's cleanliness was a concern. Dust was regularly visible on and around the equipment, skirting boards, and training areas, particularly around machines that were used less frequently. I never observed equipment being cleaned before, during, or after group sessions, and overall standards appeared lacking.
During my time there, I frequently suffered from colds and viruses. While I cannot say for certain that the gym environment contributed to this, the level of cleanliness did raise concerns.
Favouritism
During training sessions, it often appeared that certain members received more attention than others. The trainer would frequently engage in personal conversations with some clients while paying less attention to others, including myself. On occasion, I needed assistance getting on or off certain equipment due to my height but felt overlooked.
There also seemed to be inconsistencies in communication. Some members were given the trainer's personal phone number and encouraged to contact him directly, whereas I was only able to communicate via email.
Similarly, some clients appeared to receive greater flexibility regarding attendance, with the trainer asking them to "drop me a message" about upcoming sessions. I did not experience the same level of flexibility or personal consideration.
Conclusion
While the trainer is knowledgeable and personable, I ultimately felt that £135 per month represented poor value for money given the lack of progression, limited variation in training, concerns over cleanliness, and perceived favouritism. For the cost involved, I expected a higher standard of service and a more engaging training experience.