PureGym Southampton Bitterne

Why I Picked It

What I loved about PureGym Southampton Bitterne is that my expectations were so low you’d consider them a trip hazard in hell. I parked up behind the gym in a public car park (which I had to pay for so was starting off on a bad foot). Not to be detered, I sank some pre and headed into the gym for a tour and a push workout.

The gym felt like watching Breaking Bad. It took me a while to warm-up to it and by the time I was finishing my last set of triceps I didn’t want to leave (Probably the first time someone’s said that about Southampton).

I loved that right plonk in the middle of the gym was the turf/ functional fitness area and to the side of it the racks. Like Arsenal and never winning the UCL (Meant to be). The idea of warming up, mobilising whilst having a full view of the racks just makes sense. The dumbbell area may be a bit small but like many men who lack in size they make up for in how well put together they are and the gym is no different. An excellent array of plate-loaded equipment lies behind the dumbbell area and to the right (if you’re facing the mirrors). Then, the highlight of the gym was the GHD. If you’ve never used a Glute-Ham Developed before then you’re missing out. Engineered by the soviets in the 1970s as a way to develop power for their olympic weightlifters. The best way to imagine is if a hyper-extension and a leg curl had a baby. Brutal on your posterior chain. Sorry this wasn’t meant to ne a love letter to a machine.

Rounding off the gym is the view from the first floor in the cycle studio (stairs can be found by the cables).
Does it add anything functional to the gym? No.
Is it a cool feature in a weirdly yellow lit room? Yes.
Is this review a little bias because I cranked out my mind on pre and had a juicy pump? Also Yes.

Rate it yourself!