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Depends what your mate is after lad tbh, is he big on the weights or more the cardio/general fitness? We're quite lucky in Liverpool because theres really plenty of options.

Invictus in Fazak I've heard is a decent fighters gym.
New one in crosby I've heard is a decent all rounder (weights/cardio/pool/sauna)
Theres a few proper weight gyms knockin about too. The ones of Vauxhall rd and Hawthorne rd are the ones I hear loads of ppl talking about.
Then theres the ones in town where the TOWIE wanabes go to show off
Plus the total fitness places popping up here there and everywhere.

I'm actually looking to join up to 1 myself at the moment so looking forward to seeing the replies to this.

I've been the one off Vauxhall Road, BodyPower gym and think its boss. Real old school feel to it with literally all the free weights you want and stuff. Pictures up all round of different competitors and even one of the guys who goes there/owns the place (I'm not sure) is up on the walls. Fellas are real friendly too in terms of advice and such. I've also looked at gym 21 but heard some negative stuff from there so not sure about that place, if anyone is a member be good to hear their perspective.

Me mate is a typical lad wanting to build muscle. None of this TOWIE bullshit, primadonna tantastics who wear espadrilles to train in. Basically, he's after the gym that has loadsa free weights and comfortable vibe with fellas who know their shit. The problem he has with my gym (Vauxhall) is that the facilities i.e. showers, locker room, toilets etc are virtually none existant.

If that's the criteria your friend wants and not something squalid, then a commercial gym may be better. There will be a compromise though with the tantastic trade off. I personally like commercial gyms though as long as you mind your own business and don't engage, then they usually have an abundance of equipment and good opening hours / additional facilities. I think Total Fitness's are in trouble from what I gather, and when I was home both the main one's were closed down I believe.

As for hardcore gyms, I've been to all of them in Liverpool apart from Training Station in Wavertree which I heard has excellent facilities.

Note: Like any gym these can be cliquey I suppose, but just keep yourself to yourself and don't get into conversations about steroids all the time like most people fall in to. Then the bitterness about physiques etc start and it gets a little childish. Keep that shit to yourself privately and be aware these gyms usually have a strong following of these individuals.

BodyPower: Awesome gym and Darren is cool as well. Great selection of free weights, and I believe they even have a small MMA section upstairs now as well. Next door has been knocked through to create more space, and they have plenty of good machines. Squat rack padding needs fixing ASAP though. It sucks and doesn't allow you to squat with balance properly.

Terry's Fitness / Hawthorne Road: Nice little compact gym, tucked away. Weights are kept in good condition and there's everything you need in her to get big. Cardio upstairs with small fighting section. Probably best to avoid peak hours but in the afternoon it's perfect.

I spoke to him yesterday and he told me he's probably gonna go Gym 21. I go BodyPower and think its a beast like, go everythin I need apart from a shower, but that doesn't bother me tbh. You been gym21 Adam? Cos for a student (like us, we're moving into a student house together in town) its 19 quid a month, which is a pretty good deal tbh, tenner cheaper than BodyPower.

Not been to many in Liverpool for a while, but I used to go to the Training Station in Wavertree, which was a well maintained, well run gym ideal for serious training. Bodypower on Vauxhall road was also a really good gym, and it had a fair number of younger lads in there over the afternoon, so it had a good training atmosphere.

Gym21 is the more middle ground gym. Again well maintained and run, but the none-training facilities may be a little better - like the showers.

Crobeam wrote:

I spoke to him yesterday and he told me he's probably gonna go Gym 21. I go BodyPower and think its a beast like, go everythin I need apart from a shower, but that doesn't bother me tbh. You been gym21 Adam? Cos for a student (like us, we're moving into a student house together in town) its 19 quid a month, which is a pretty good deal tbh, tenner cheaper than BodyPower.

From what I heard when I was back home it's been renovated a bit which is great as last time I was there it was seriously disjointed, albeit still well equipped.

I would avoid the stereotypical Liverpool guys who train there however; perhaps unfairly to some, I say this, but most people are full of awful advice not in your best interests and also more eager to push steroids and talk about things they generally don't have a clue about.

This isn't just Gym21 either - most underground gyms in Liverpool are like this. Be aware / warned and always do research yourself (ASK HERE, MOST IMPORTANTLY AS WE CARE ABOUT PEOPLE'S PROGRESS AND RESULTS)