CrossFit Hove

Of the various gyms and Crossfit boxes I've been to, I can safely say this box is really unique. It doesn't wreak of testosterone, for starters. All the folks who train there are really friendly, and folks tend to focus on their own thing. The owner of the gym, Miles, is incredibly observant and knowledgeable, and really helps you with your individual progression. The other coaches are awesome too. In the last 3 months I've received extra dietary advice from Miles that has really progressed me to the next level in my training. I'm now able to sustain the 3 days on, 1 day off schedule, something my diet was holding me back from. Lastly, the programming here is (in my opinion) top notch. I'm not an expert on the subject, but haven't really found myself questioning the programming at all; it's well thought, and coupled with the additional gymnastics/olympic/metcon/benchmark sessions over the weekend, you really won't get bored.

I left a while back after finally having enough of the poor attitude of the management. Firstly being spoken to as an inconvenience rather than a paying customer. Secondly having classes cancelled on the day and being moved to other classes because the manager wanted to consolidate classes yet quick to penalise any changes members made and final inflexibility / lack of transparency on some of the membership options. All summed up by 'it's always been that way' response hence went elsewhere.

Coaches are very well prepared, the members are the loveliest people, and you'll definitely get sweating! However, the format of the classes (which are not divided into strenght + wod, rather consist of one workout with some accessory work at times) doesn't encourage people to set individual goals or to address their strengths/weaknesses directly. This can often result in not feeling like you're progressing the way you'd like. Management doesn't make members feel valued and there is little flexibility in memberships available which does not fit well with people who can't train as much or are periodically away for work/visiting family/holidays. It is regularly difficult to get into one's desired timeslot class because classes get booked up quickly.

One of the women who works here is exceptionally rude and unkind. I attend another gym in the cul-de-sac and I once sat on a bench outside their gym whilst I was waiting to go in. She came out and had a go at me because it was their bench. Now if they had customers using the area I could understand but they didn't, literally no-one was there, and it's a bench. More recently she came out and had a go at someone else who was sitting on the floor leaning against a shipping container. Because it would 'chip the paint' on a SHIPPING CONTAINER which are a). built to withstand the sea, and b). is sitting outside exposed to the elements year round. This is utterly unhinged behaviour and makes what should be a nice environment of a few little gyms together needlessly unpleasant. If your bench and shipping container are in the street then hate to break it to you but people are going to touch them, grow up.