This listing carries a closure flag. Google marks David Ross Sports Village as temporarily closed, and a second, older field marks it permanently closed. Nothing has been written here since September 2020.
Don't travel on the strength of this page. Check nottingham.ac.uk/sport before you go.
I want to be careful about what that flag means, though, because the two markers disagree with each other and neither is fresh. This is the University of Nottingham's sports centre on Beeston Lane, and university facilities close and reopen for all sorts of reasons: refurbishment, vacations, or the fact that the record froze in the middle of 2020 when everything shut. I'm not going to tell you it's gone. I'm telling you the data says check first, and there's no phone number on the listing to check with.
It shows 4.5 from 771 reviews, which is a large sample.
The Review That's Actually Useful
A member in June 2020, three stars: "Great equipment and facilities for almost every sport you can imagine, however it is almost always overfull except for very early mornings. Unless you want to make use of the other facilities, off campus gyms offer better value."
That's the only person here doing any thinking, and he does two valuable things.
He tells you when to go: very early mornings, because it's packed the rest of the time.
Then he does something nobody else in 771 reviews attempts. He compares it against the alternative and concludes that if you only want a gym, off-campus gyms are better value. That's a recommendation to go elsewhere, from someone rating it three stars, and it's aimed precisely at the reader who came here looking for a gym rather than a sports complex.
His caveat matters too: "unless you want to make use of the other facilities." The case for this place is breadth, not the weights room.
What the Fans Say
A member in September 2020: "Amazing, clean and new equipment, so much space within the gym areas, classes are high quality and all the facilities are extremely well maintained. Very easy to get to and friendly staff."
Notice the collision. She says there's "so much space," he says it's almost always overfull. Both wrote within three months of each other in 2020.
My hypothesis, and it is only that: she may be describing the physical size of the rooms while he's describing how many people are in them. A big hall can still be full. I can't confirm it and I'm not calling either of them wrong.
There's a bigger caveat on her review, though, and on the two below it. September 2020 was during a pandemic, when capacity limits and booking systems were the norm at UK sports centres. That could make "so much space" true in a way that tells you nothing about a normal Tuesday. That's my reading, not hers.
A member in August 2020: "The best place in Nottingham for squash, gym and swimming."
Squash courts and a pool. He's the only source for both.
A member in January 2020: "Great place. Lots of good facilities. You are able to do most things you want here. Membership is definitely worth the price, especially as a student."
Student pricing exists. No figure, and "worth the price" without a number is worth nothing to you.
A member in September 2020: "Incredible facilities, really nice building."
What's Missing
No prices, no hours, no phone number. Nothing since September 2020.
No equipment named. "New equipment" from one reviewer, six years ago.
Who It's Not For
Anyone who just wants to lift. A three-star member says off-campus gyms are better value if you're not using the rest.
Anyone who trains at peak times, by the same account.
Anyone who hasn't checked it's open, which right now is everyone.
Beeston Ln, Nottingham NG7 2RD. Opening times are at nottingham.ac.uk/sport.
FAQ
Is it open?
The listing shows a temporary closure flag and an older permanent-closure marker, and they contradict each other. Nothing has been written since September 2020. Check nottingham.ac.uk/sport before travelling.
Is it busy?
A member in June 2020 says it's almost always overfull except very early in the morning.
Is there a pool?
A member in August 2020 names swimming and squash alongside the gym. He's the only source.
Is it good value?
A three-star member says off-campus gyms offer better value unless you use the other facilities. A student in January 2020 says membership is worth it. Neither gives a figure.