Membership
Terms and Conditions

1. INTRODUCTION AND DEFINITIONS

In these Rules “the Company” means Arete Gyms Limited (and all of its subsidiary companies trading as Arete Gyms) which provides the Club and its facilities for the benefit of the Members; “the Club” means “Arete Gyms”; “Member” means a Club Member; “Rules” mean the terms and conditions of membership set out below. It is a condition of membership that Members agree to pay the fees referred to in Rule (2.) and agree to be bound by these Rules. These Rules may be revoked, altered or added to from time to time by the Company, without prior notification to Members. Any such variations will be updated on the Club Rules on our website. The Company has created these Rules for the mutual enjoyment of the Members and their guests. The enforcement of these Rules is for the good of all Members.

2. MEMBERSHIP AND FEE

1. Members must be at least 18 years of age.
2. Members shall pay when applicable a non-refundable joining fee at the time of joining at the rate specified.
3. Membership payments are payable monthly in advance. Members may prepay for annual 12 month membership – the full amount to be paid prior to membership start date. Monthly subscription runs from the 1st of each month. Payment of monthly membership can only be made by card payment or direct debit. Monthly instalments and additional monthly charges are charged on the 1st (or next working day) of each month.
4. Members must keep the Club informed of their up to date contact details.
5. All communications shall be presumed to have been received within 5 days of the postmarked date, or ‘sent’ date if via email.
6. All membership fees are reviewed annually usually on the 1st January, members will be notified of any changes by email giving one full calendar months’ notice.
7. The Company reserves the right to refuse a membership application from any applicant for any reason.
8. A photo must be taken at the time of joining or before the first entry to the club. Entry will not be permitted without a photo of the member in question.
9. Membership is non-transferable and non-refundable.
10. If any monthly fees or charges incurred are not paid when they fall due, the company reserves the right to temporarily refuse the member access to the club until such time as full payment has been made. If any monthly fees or charges incurred are not paid within 30 days after they are due, the club shall have the right to demand payment in full. If such amounts are not paid within 15 days after such demand, membership shall be terminated and the club may pursue any rights it may have to recover the unpaid amount. The Club reserves the right to refer any missed payments to a debt collection agency and will charge you a fee, in respect of failed subscription payments and/or collection letters sent to you in respect of unpaid amounts.
11. Upon termination of membership, no refund of the admin fee, monthly fees or other fees shall be issued.
12. To re-join the Club after a termination of membership, any unpaid subscriptions must be cleared, a new membership agreement completed and the prevailing admin fee may be charged.

3. ANNUAL AND TEMPORARY MEMBERSHIP

1. Definition of Annual or Temporary Membership – Annual or Temporary Memberships are pre-paid membership options that require a lump sum payment for a set duration, either annually or temporarily. The start and end dates for these memberships are fixed and non-negotiable.
2. Modifications to Temporary Memberships, such as freezing, upgrading, downgrading, or altering the end date, are not permitted.
3. Annual Memberships may be frozen, upgraded, or cancelled before the original end date, in accordance with the standard terms and conditions applicable to our monthly memberships.

4. MEMBERSHIP APP

5. USE OF FACILITIES AND SERVICES

Refer to our CLUB RULES page for details on our policies to provide a respectful and inclusive community at Arete Gyms

1. Club opening hours are fixed by the Company and are subject to change without prior notice.
2. The Company may at any time close the Club’s premises or any part thereof, without notice, in order to; execute repairs, alterations, accommodate external events, re-decorations or otherwise, to facilitate Club programmes or on certain holidays.
3. Only members of staff or a nominated 3rd party may provide personal training services within the Club.
4. Members are requested to arrive at the club for appointments and studio classes 10mins before the official start time. An instructor may refuse entry if a Member arrives later than the start time, or may ask any Member to leave a class if they feel theirs, or another’s, safety or enjoyment is in jeopardy.
5. The Company reserves the right to refuse entry to the Club’s premises at its absolute discretion.
6. It is the Member’s responsibility to ensure that they are capable of undergoing any activity within the Club. All activities and treatments are pursued at the Member’s own risk.
7. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the class programme, the management reserves the right to cancel or re-schedule classes after publication and at short notice. The programme may be amended during public holidays.
8. Use of fitness areas and other Club facilities is at the Member’s or guest’s own risk and under their own medical advice.
9. Proper attire, as determined by the Company, must be worn in the Club – this includes not going topless in the fitness areas or studios. Members are requested to wear at all times appropriate clean footwear throughout the Club.
10. Pets are not allowed in the Club.
11. Smoking is not permitted anywhere in the Club.
12. Only food purchased from the club should be consumed within the club.
13. No alcoholic beverages or drugs of any kind may be brought into the Club. Violation of this rule will result in immediate expulsion from the Club and may result in termination of membership.
14. Members or guests shall not use the Club’s facilities whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs. In the event they do so, this is entirely at their own risk.
15. Mobiles may be used for phone calls in all areas of the club excluding wet areas and communal lounges, if done discreetly and in a non-disruptive manner. In the interest of member privacy, video calls are not permitted in the club. Members may only take photos or film using mobile phones on the gym floor, where a tripod is not being used, and it is done discreetly with no other members in shot. The use of professional photography or videography equipment is prohibited. Members are able to utilise any studio space which is not in use for filming. Photography and filming is prohibited in all changing rooms and wet areas.
16. In the interest of safety, no glass container may be taken into any fitness areas, pool or changing areas.
17. Be considerate of others; loud or abusive language will not be tolerated.
18. Club property, including towels, toiletries, etc., is provided by the Club as a courtesy to its Members during Club usage only. Removal of Club property from the premises may result in the termination of membership privileges and legal action.
19. Member appointments for physiotherapy, personal training and spa that have been booked require 24 hours’ notice when cancelling. If a Member fails to attend an appointment without providing such notice, the Club reserves the right to charge the full cost of the appointment.
20. Members are required to leave workout areas clean and tidy. As a courtesy to other Members and for health and safety reasons, equipment needs to be replaced in the storage areas/racks provided and equipment must be wiped down after use.
21. Any unused Personal Training sessions or club credit, cannot be refunded.

6. LOCKERS

1. Lockers may be available for use by Members and their guests whilst they are on the Club’s premises, subject to availability.
2. Members must ensure that the contents of the daily lockers are removed at the end of their visit. Only Members who have paid to hire a permanent locker may have personal items left in their lockers overnight.
3. Permanent lockers remain the property of the club and under no circumstances can be shared with another member. The club reserves the right to open lockers without the member’s permission or the member being present.
4. All bags must be kept in lockers and should not be taken into the fitness areas.
5. The Company reserves the right to remove the contents from any ‘non-permanent’ locker, which has not been emptied after the visit.
6. Property cleared from lockers, or left on the premises, will be held for 14 days or 48 hours for wet items. Unclaimed items are donated to charity.

7. LIABILITY

1. Neither the Club nor the Company will accept liability for any damage or loss to a Member’s or guest’s personal property brought into the Club’s premises.
2. All activities and treatments are taken at the Member’s or guest’s own risk.
3. Neither the Club, the Company nor their servants and agents shall be liable for personal injury sustained by Members or their guests whilst on the Club’s premises, except in so far as it can be proven that this relates to the wilful act, neglect or default of the Company or the Club or any servants or agents.
4. Members or guests who suffer an accident or injury on the Club premises must report the accident or injury and the circumstances in which it occurred to the Duty Manager immediately following the accident or injury.

8. MEMBER’S HEALTH AND SAFETY WARRANTY

1. Members and guests must warrant and represent that they are in good physical condition and capable of engaging in exercise and notify a member of the fitness team immediately in order that Member/guest notes and their programme can be updated or medical clearance obtained. If through injury or other reason, such as pregnancy, this is not the case, they must consult a doctor before engaging in exercise and that he/she knows of no medical or other reason why he/she is not able to engage in active or passive exercise and that such exercise would not be detrimental to his/her health, safety, comfort or physical condition.
2. The Member shall not use any Club facilities whilst suffering from any infectious or contagious illness, disease or other ailment or whilst suffering from a physical ailment such as open cuts, abrasions, open sores or minor infections where there is a risk that such use may be detrimental to the health, safety, comfort or physical condition of other Members.
3. We recommend that before using the club you familiarise yourself with the fire exits and emergency routes in case of evacuation. Please note that employees are NOT required to “seek & search” the building. Therefore it is the responsibility of each individual to follow the relevant instructions. Please note lifts will not be operational during an emergency evacuation.

9. DATA PROTECTION

1. Your data privacy and security are important to us. Please refer to our Privacy Notice which explains how we collect, store and handle your personal data.

10. CANCELLATION OF MEMBERSHIP

1. Monthly membership cancellations must be received by the 1st of each & every month, however cannot be submitted in the same month as joining. A full calendar month’s payment is required which means a minimum of one month and a maximum of 2 months final payment will be necessary depending on the date the cancellation form is received. For example, if a cancellation form is received on the 1st May, only May will be due, however if received on 2nd May both May and June will be due.
2. Requests to cancel your membership can be made through your Arete Gyms member app. Remember, cancellations must be received by the 1st of each month and require a full calendar month’s payment. All requests must be in writing, as verbal instructions cannot be accepted. You will receive an email confirmation within two working days – until you receive this email the cancellation will not be valid.
3. Membership cannot be amended whilst in the notice period. Verbal instructions to amend or cancel a membership cannot be accepted, all requests must be in writing.
4. Memberships can only be cancelled if subscription collection is active.
5. All member benefits that are in place at point of termination will be removed from the account and are non-redeemable. Monthly fees and/or prepaid fees are not refundable.
6. Ex-members wishing to re-join the club will be asked to pay a joining fee plus any unpaid balance from the previous membership.
7. Please do not send a cancellation form by post.
8. The Company shall have the right to suspend or withdraw Club privileges or membership from any Member who, in their opinion, has abused privileges or conducted himself or herself in a manner deemed detrimental to the Club staff or its Members. Such expulsion or suspension shall become effective immediately and no reimbursement will be issued to such Member of the pro-rated portion of their unused monthly fees. There will be no refund of the joining fee.
9. The Manager or a designee shall have complete charge of the Club whilst on duty. Members may be suspended or expelled from the Club immediately if they display conduct which is, or is likely to be in the sole opinion of the Company, injurious to the character of the Club or the interests of the Members and staff, or if they commit a serious or repeated breach of these Rules, in particular where amounts owing to the Company are unpaid.
10. An expelled Member forfeits all the privileges of the membership and all rights against the Company. An expelled Member will not be entitled to any refund of their joining fee or subscription and must pay all amounts owed to the Company forthwith.

11. FREEZING MEMBERSHIP

1. Request for freezing shall be at the sole discretion of the Club.
2. A minimum of seven days’ notice must be given to freeze your membership, freezes will not be accepted in retrospect.
3. You cannot freeze in your first full calendar month of membership.
4. There is a monthly fee of £12 to freeze your membership.
5. Payment will automatically be debited using your usual monthly payment method instead of your regular subscription.
6. Members can freeze their membership up to 3 months per calendar year. Minimum one month. Annual pre-paid members cannot freeze their membership.
7. Members on maternity/paternity leave may freeze their membership FOC for a maximum of 12 months.
8. Extension or amendments to your freeze must be made in writing via email.
9. Freezes can only be processed when a resume date is given.
10. Monthly subscription payments will recommence automatically at the end of a freeze period without additional communication. Subscription billing runs from 1st of the month. If your membership is frozen on the 1st, you will be debited the freeze fee, and your usual subscription billing will resume when your freeze ends. If your freeze does not coincide with your billing, i.e. your freeze begins on the 5th and you are billed each month on the 1st, you will be charged your standard membership fee and once your freeze starts the overpayment will be placed as a credit to off-set the period from which your freeze ends. Meaning in this example the payment covers the 1st – 4th before your freeze starts and 6th to the end of the month in which your freeze ends.
11. If your membership is frozen, you may not access the club by using a guest pass, you can unfreeze your membership early, or pay the freeze visit fee.
12. Your membership needs to be live if you wish to serve notice to cancel your membership.
13. New joiners wishing to freeze must have their membership active for 1 full calendar month before the membership can be frozen

12. CCTV

1. For the safety and security of staff and members, closed circuit cameras operate throughout the Clubs (except in the male and female changing rooms) (see our Privacy Notice for more information).
2. Any unlawful activity within the Club may be reviewed for possible legal action.

13. STANDARD COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE

1. Members are encouraged to give feedback, they can either do this by emailing the membership team on admin@areteygyms.com who will ensure it makes its way to the right person in order to respond, or by speaking to the club concierge team when in the club, who will do the same.

14. GENERAL

1. The Company may assign the benefit of the Membership Agreement to a third party at any time without notice to the Member. A person who is not party to the Membership Agreement has no rights under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 to rely upon or enforce any term of the Membership Agreement.
2. The Company may communicate with the Members via electronic mail (“email”) and/or by SMS as set out in our Privacy Notice.
3. Members are required to leave the fitness floors 20 minutes before closing times if they wish to take a shower. Once a year our clubs may have to close over a weekend for general maintenance.

Membership Terms and Conditions