This is a leisure centre, not just a gym
Clifton, listed here as a gym, is actually Clifton Leisure Centre - part of Active Nottingham, with a swimming pool, a flume, a sauna, a steam room, a salt room, and a gym floor all under one roof. That matters, because the 4.1 across 394 reviews is dragged down mostly by the wet-side facilities, not the weights. I'd separate those in your head before you judge the score.
The hygiene pattern is the story
Read enough of these and one theme repeats from different people: the health spa is dirty. A December 2025 reviewer wrote a long, careful list - "Showers are not cleaned... Underneath the showers you can see mould... The finger marks and dirt on the glass is quite off putting... many areas in the health suite which shows thick black spots of grime." A separate December 2025 review, independently: "the health spa is very unhygienic, the past 4 times I have come the floors have been very dirty, it has smelt like urine." Two people, two visits, the same complaint. That's not a one-off bad day - that's a pattern a manager should own.
Here's the mechanism worth understanding. This is a council-run leisure centre with a large wet area, high footfall, and a cleaning rota that clearly isn't keeping pace with the health suite. The gym itself gets a pass - one of those same reviewers said "Gym is great however the health spa is very unhygienic." So the complaint isn't "avoid the weights," it's "the spa and changing areas need daily cleaning they aren't getting."
Where it works
The pool side isn't all bad. An April 2026 parent review praised a kids' swim session: "The changing rooms were clean and very spacious... The session was well run and on time... lots of showers, loads of space, a spin dryer for your swim suits, hairdryers, straighteners everything." So the facility can present well - which makes the hygiene complaints read as inconsistency, not permanent decay.
Where it falls down
Booking and admin draw fire too. A December 2025 review found kids' pools closed during a "Swim for All" session and was told it's "just a name." A June 2026 review calls staff "incompetent" over an unresolved membership complaint. Would you want to sort a billing dispute with a council contractor? Several reviewers clearly struggled.
What the average measures
4.1 across 394 is a big, trustworthy sample - the number means what it says. It's the honest average of a decent gym, a capable pool, and a health suite that keeps disappointing. My read: the weights room and the swim sessions earn their keep; the spa and admin are why this isn't a 4.6.
What's missing
No review lists a membership price. Whether the cleaning issues have been fixed since the late-2025 complaints isn't confirmed. Call +44 115 876 1600 or check activenottingham.com for current pricing, session times, and pool availability.
Who it's not for
Anyone whose main draw is the sauna and steam suite - that's exactly the part reviewers flag. Spa-first visitors with weakened immune systems, whom one reviewer specifically warned. People who want frictionless membership admin.
FAQ
Is Clifton a gym or a leisure centre?
It's Clifton Leisure Centre, run by Active Nottingham, with a pool, flume, sauna, steam room, salt room and gym. The gym floor reviews well; the health spa draws repeated hygiene complaints.
Are the hygiene complaints recent?
Yes. Multiple reviews from late 2025 describe grime, mould, and odour in the health suite and showers. Whether it's since been resolved isn't confirmed, so check current conditions yourself.
How do I sort a membership issue?
Reviewers report slow responses to complaints. Contact the centre at +44 115 876 1600 or Active Nottingham directly, and keep a record of your correspondence.