Backlash has erupted over the launch of a David Lloyd pass allowing people to “queue jump” for tennis court access if they pay more money.
The luxury health club chain is running a trial of its “signature” tier package at six of its 109 clubs, where members who pay an additional £140 a month are able to make tennis court bookings a day earlier than others.
The £140 is on top of regular fees that can cost as much as £250 a month – and some people already paying the premium cost to attend the clubs are not happy.
A Change.org petition launched last month for members at the Raynes Park site in west London is calling for David Lloyd not to give preferential booking rights to select members.
The petition, which has been signed more than 360 times, says members already struggle to book tennis courts at the point when slots are released, meaning the “signature” tier will “worsen an existing access problem”.
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One person who signed the petition said she was “very sad” at the situation, adding: “The club has lost sight of what is important – its members. Please start looking after your community and stop focussing on profit margins.”
David Lloyd: Trial to end soon
A spokesperson for David Lloyd Clubs said: “We offer a range of membership packages designed to suit different needs and budgets.
“We are currently trialling a new Signature package designed to provide members with a comprehensive view of their health and wellness, using advanced testing and expert analysis to support a proactive approach to improving health, performance, and longevity.”
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They added: “The package combines full in-club access with bi-annual physical assessments led by a medical clinician, specialist personal training, clearly defined action plans and a range of additional member benefits.
“Only a very small number of these memberships are available and the trial ends on 31 March 2026. The booking rights benefit is being trialled at just six of our 109 clubs across the UK, so we don’t anticipate any meaningful impact on court booking availability.”
