What is a Commercial Gym?
Updated April 2024
Whether you’re new to the world of fitness or are a gym veteran, choosing the right gym or performance facility that is right for your goals is essential. With the choice of a commercial or private gym, there are benefits to both, however, the majority of people who are into their fitness tend to have memberships at commercial gyms.
A frequently asked question we get here at Bicester Health & Fitness, is what is a commercial gym and what’s the difference between a commercial gym and a private gym as well as how to choose the right gym for your goals. In this fitness guide, we outline everything you need to know about commercial gyms so that you can go into a new gym membership with confidence.
What is a commercial gym?
A commercial gym is the most common form of public gym in the UK, wherein practically anyone from the public can walk in and request to become a member. They can be found up and down the country, and may be part of a franchise or privately owned.
Commercial gyms often offer monthly or yearly membership plans to individuals at a lower cost compared to private gyms, making them highly accessible for a range of people but convenient as well.
Commercial gym equipment
Fitness equipment at commercial gyms is often industry-leading and extremely versatile so that it can be used by gym-goers of all abilities. You can expect to see equipment such as cardiovascular, weight and resistance machines as well as dumbbells, squat racks and functional frames on the gym floor.
Our Bicester Performance Gym is fully equipped with premium Matrix equipment appealing to training enthusiasts, amateur sportspeople and professional athletes and teams looking for a facility that can be used for elite sports performance training.
See our dedicated page to find out more information about the equipment used in commercial gyms.
Commercial gym memberships
Commercial gym membership plans and benefits can vary, but a member can typically have use of the gym itself and fitness classes included within the price. Membership plans are traditionally worked out on a contract basis with monthly and annual options available for individuals and groups.
In addition to long-term memberships, most commercial gyms offer day passes so that if you’re visiting the area or wanting to try the facilities before committing to a contract you have the ability to get your fitness fix!
Commercial gym fitness classes
As part of signing up for your local gym, you may find that they offer fitness classes such as Spinning, HIIT, yoga and pilates in separate fitness studios. Fitness classes are a great alternative if you don’t want a 1-2-1 personal trainer in a commercial gym and are a good way to get social, meet new people and stay active.
Here at Bicester Gym, we have 3 fitness studios which are just a stone’s throw away from our commercial performance centre – no matter what fitness level you are or what goals you have, we can help your fitness journey.
Advantages of a commercial gym
If you’re thinking of joining a commercial gym, being aware of the benefits fitness presents will help determine whether it fits within your health goals.
Reasons to join a commercial gym:
- First-class training equipment
- Different fitness classes
- Membership plans to suit your needs
- Improve mental health
- Great facilitator for fat and weight loss
- Build lean muscle mass
Commercial gym vs private gym?
The main difference between a commercial gym and a private gym is the number of members. A commercial gym is available for everyone to join and use, whereas a private gym or private studio limits to smaller numbers of people at one time and often specialises in one aspect of health and fitness. You’ll be able to find private gyms that are designated for things like injury recovery, whereas a commercial gym like ours in Bicester is designed for a range of sporting interests – different types of gyms have their own goal!
We have members who are just starting their health and fitness journey (if you’re new too, see our guide on what to expect from a gym induction) right up to professional athletes competing at the highest level of performance.
Commercial and retail gym FAQs
New gym-goers will have an almost endless list of questions about starting their fitness journey in a commercial gym and what to expect. Below, we’ve covered some of the most commonly asked questions about commercial and retail gyms so that you can go in with as much knowledge as possible and feel confident.
Are commercial gym weights lighter?
All gym weights are standard across the board – equipment such as dumbbells and weighted plates will be the same across commercial gyms and private gyms. A thing to note is that the starting resistance on some machines may differ, but this will be labelled on the piece of equipment.
How can I find my local commercial gym?
A great way to find a local commercial gym near you is to look through directories, Google Maps, word-of-mouth and maybe a drive around town.
As the leading commercial performance centre in Bicester, Oxfordshire we’ll be able to help those within the local area with their fitness goals – we have a range of outdoor activities such as a performance lake to fully immerse yourself in the world of health and fitness.
What are commercial gym opening times?
Commercial gym opening times will differ from one to another – some are 24/7 whilst others will have set opening and closing times.
Join a commercial gym in Bicester, Oxfordshire
To book an induction for our commercial gym or performance centre, simply call one of our team members or use a contact form and we will get back to you in order to arrange an induction.
