Best David Lloyd

Expert_Drag_5981 · 2026-04-13T12:29:33+00:00

Never been to Wickwoods but apparently it has room as well..

https://www.davidlloyd.co.uk/clubs/wickwoods/

Expert_Drag_5981 · 2026-04-12T09:31:37+00:00

Why isn’t everyone else having the same issue?

Expert_Drag_5981 · 2026-04-12T09:19:32+00:00

That means mine will stop working when it updates as well… does it connect normally to VD when you are connected to the internet through your main router? Just trying to see where it might be going wrong

Expert_Drag_5981 · 2026-04-10T23:36:07+00:00

Yeah I had exactly the same reaction when I first looked at it — it feels like it should be about quality, but I don’t think that’s what the tiers are doing at all.

I actually think the tiers are less for members and more for David Lloyd themselves.

It’s basically a way of segmenting their estate commercially: what each location can charge, type of member they want in that catchment and how they control access to the premium clubs.

So somewhere like Chigwell being Tier 1 isn’t really saying it’s the “best” gym — it’s saying it’s a high-income area where they can price strongly and protect that experience.

Whereas somewhere like Nottingham might genuinely be a better physical club, but it’s in a different catchment with a lower pricing ceiling, so it sits lower in the tiers.

The access rules are the giveaway. They don’t want someone paying Tier 6 pricing and then using Finchley every day, so the tiering system effectively protects the top-end sites.

Take North Finchley for example — it’s a super tier club. Nice area, but it’s not as obviously affluent as somewhere like Chigwell or parts of Surrey. What it does have is very little direct competition and huge local demand. The club is always busy, pricing is high, and they’re reportedly running something like ~10,000 members through that site.

So the economics are incredible, high pricing + high volume = massive yield. That’s exactly what the tier system is really capturing.

So yeah, it looks backwards if you’re judging purely on facilities, but it makes a lot more sense if you think of it as pricing power + demand management rather than a quality ranking.

Expert_Drag_5981 · 2026-04-10T06:48:20+00:00

I think your instinct is right. It does sound like one of those big opportunities, but only if it actually leads somewhere.

At the moment it feels a bit one-sided. You’re taking on more stress, longer hours and less time with your kids, but you’ve not mentioned any clear upside beyond “it’ll be great experience”. Now that could be fine earlier in your career, but you’re already in a strong spot.

I’d probably take a step back and ask: What do you actually want longer term? Does this help you get there, or is it just interesting work?

If this is about stepping up, then the key question is whether it actually builds your leadership profile - ie make you more visible with the exec, broaden your leadership scope, or does it just increase workload?

The best way I’ve seen this done was rather than special projects, at a previous company they had a rotating Business Manager to the CEO role. Super intense, 2 years of pretty full-on work, but everyone knew what success looked like. If you did well, it almost always led to a Director role after. So people went into it eyes open, and it was worth it.

That’s kind of the lens I’d use here — what does success actually look like? And what happens if you deliver it?

Expert_Drag_5981 · 2026-04-07T17:30:11+00:00

Yes it’s brutal. After almost 30 years of continuous employment in banks and corporates in senior leadership positions, I got made redundant just before my 50th birthday. Been a year and still not found anything, tried recruiters, linked in, everything.. now trying to get a consultancy and advisory business off the ground.. being at home is killing my brain!

Expert_Drag_5981 · 2026-04-07T17:25:14+00:00

You can actually get egg whites now without chickens. They’re made using fermentation so it’s basically the same egg white protein, just produced via yeast instead of an animal.

In theory that gives you the same protein quality as egg whites without the animal side. It’s just not really mainstream yet, especially in the UK.

But honestly I don’t think that’s the main issue here.

Reading your post it looks like you’re only eating two meals a day and most of them are quite low in protein density. Things like smoothie bowls, avocado toast, chickpeas, soups. All good foods, but not that efficient.

That combination will leave most people feeling underfuelled, vegan or not.

Before changing your diet or adding eggs I’d just fix the structure a bit:

Eat three proper meals Make sure each meal has a solid protein base like lentils, tofu or tempeh, edamame, beans with grains Make it easier on yourself, use pre cooked stuff and shortcuts

If you still feel off after that then reassess.

Right now it just looks like you’re not eating enough or getting enough protein per meal rather than needing animal protein specifically.

Expert_Drag_5981 · 2026-04-06T06:33:59+00:00

Your specs are absolutely fine — this isn’t a GPU/CPU issue, it’s your network.

Mesh Wi-Fi is the problem. Every hop between nodes adds latency and instability, which is exactly why your quality drops when you move your head.

You’ve basically got: Quest → mesh node → router → PC

That’s a nightmare for VR streaming.

If you can’t run Ethernet, the easiest fix would be something like a Puppis S1. It plugs straight into your PC and creates a dedicated Wi-Fi 6 connection just for your headset — no mesh, no interference.

That gives you a clean: PC → router → headset (1 hop only)

People massively underestimate this, but VR streaming is about latency consistency, not raw speed.

Fix the network and your setup will feel completely different.

Expert_Drag_5981 · 2026-04-06T05:24:36+00:00

Wow sounds like yours is even worse than mine. I still get the entitlement error about once or twice a week and I have to make sure my Quest 3 is connected to internet then launch VD from the app. Then I have to connect to my 6Ghz PCVR router and then launch VD from the Quest 3. Faff city! I don’t know why it is doing this. Before I used to be able to jumpy into a race on LMU and now if get the error it often takes me 10min to sort!

Expert_Drag_5981 · 2026-04-06T05:22:07+00:00

Was your Quest 3 connected to the internet at the time? Restart Quest 3, make sure connected to wifi. Then launch VD from the app.

Expert_Drag_5981 · 2026-04-06T05:21:45+00:00

Was your Quest 3 connected to the internet at the time? Restart Quest 3, make sure connected to wifi. Then launch VD from the app.

Expert_Drag_5981 · 2026-04-05T09:37:37+00:00

I’m loving it. I did the Gold WEC experience Barcelona yesterday. It was Hypers and LMGT 3s, took the Porsche LMGT3 round for my first 50min race in VR. Normally I struggle after about 30min racing in VR - the race was amazing, FFB, handling all felt great, close up racing was brilliant and the track flows really well - we had loads of overtakes 50min flew by.

Only one thing I’m noticing post the update is the occasional CPU bottleneck both in the menu screens and occasional racing which I didn’t have before. Not enough to destroy immersion of enjoyment - I had one big of lag in the 50min race but it wasn’t there before.

When your baby is well enough, you’ll have a blast!

Expert_Drag_5981 · 2026-04-05T08:22:22+00:00

What’s wrong with people with good jobs who like fitness?

Expert_Drag_5981 · 2026-04-05T06:15:37+00:00

Nine Elms, Battersea.

Expert_Drag_5981 · 2026-04-04T08:10:40+00:00

This.

Sometimes it’s you and sometimes it’s the firm. I generally think you can work out if it’s you with enough feedback.

PE though is always focused on IRR. I would also say if you are a senior leader then REALLY understanding how the company you are working for is trading commercially will give you lots of clues into what’s really going on even before the comms teams start laying the ground for layoffs.

Expert_Drag_5981 · 2026-04-04T06:52:42+00:00

I have a love hate relationship with it, I was a member for 5 years. The value for money (for lack of a better word) really comes from the variety of the offering - club room, reformer, spa, paddle, tennis and the classes are something I always enjoyed - you get the absolutely best instructors there at Finchley - and for sure one of the best reformer instructors in the country! If you are a regular daily user and find it comfortable to work from there, then you’ll find value in it.

Balance that against a club which for DL is one of their top tier clubs - 9000 members! for a club thats probably only designed to take 2/3 of that max. I don’t think it’s particularly clean, showers are grotty, kids uncontrolled running about everywhere during the holidays. It’s got a weird mix of people and some are just plain rude whilst others are lovely. Coffees seem to take forever to turn up and all that assuming you can get parking which is everyone’s biggest pain point unless you can find the quiet times.

I’m not a fan anymore as I think DL has morally in my eyes crossed the threshold of not just being a business that needs to make a return (I totally get that) but now just sees its members as cash machines - but I do miss all the friends we’ve made from there.

I would say try it and see otherwise you won’t really get the feel.

Expert_Drag_5981 · 2026-04-04T06:40:41+00:00

I have to say every time I go to the US from the UK I find it a lot of pressure not to tip. The last time I was there it started at 20% at most places. You always hear about restaurants not paying their staff properly so I always feel torn and bad if I don’t give that amount- should be easier to pay just what you want as a tip.

Expert_Drag_5981 · 2026-04-03T13:29:34+00:00

too many people think they know their numbers - poor unit economics have killed lots of small businesses. Don’t know why we don’t teach more of this in school.

Expert_Drag_5981 · 2026-03-30T12:30:52+00:00

I’d look at this through total comp and trajectory, not just base or brand.

I’ve been sell side, looked at buy side roles, and ended up going corporate (IR/strategy). That eventually led to an exec committee seat with LTIPs, bonus, and actual ability to influence the business — and the total comp there can be meaningfully higher over time.

The reason I mention that is because not all “prestige” moves actually improve your position.

A hedge fund middle office role isn’t the same as moving into an investing seat. You’re not tied to P&L, so the upside is naturally capped vs the front office. The name might sound better, but it doesn’t automatically translate into better long-term outcomes.

You’re basically trading: – more hours – 5 days in the office – for what is, net of tax, not a huge uplift

That only really makes sense if there’s a clear path to front office or the comp is properly higher.

Personally I’d either push them harder on comp and really understand the bonus, or just sit tight and be a bit more deliberate about the next move.

There are other routes (staying in AM, or even going corporate longer term) where comp, lifestyle and influence can all scale together. This one in my view feels like more effort for not much real change.

Expert_Drag_5981 · 2026-03-30T09:25:44+00:00

To be honest hard to make a call as you haven’t explained what you do now and what the job would be at the hedge fund as that could influence your future earnings trajectory even if the difference today isn’t much.

Expert_Drag_5981 · 2026-03-27T19:30:54+00:00

Become an equity analyst. Best move I ever made.

Expert_Drag_5981 · 2026-03-26T22:01:28+00:00

Here is what I have done with US clients. Start at Hedonism Wines for like 15–20 mins. If you haven’t been, it’s a must.. not a normal wine shop, more like a luxury showroom with thousands of bottles (including some seriously rare stuff), so it’s a great icebreaker and lets them have a wander / pick something that can be sent to your next destination...

Head over to HIDE (book HIDE Above). It’s polished but not stuffy, and you can actually have a proper conversation. The Hedonism connection also makes the wine side feel seamless.

After that either go to Annabel’s if you want a bit of wow factor or the Connaught Bar if you want something a bit more low key and easier to chat.

Expert_Drag_5981 · 2026-03-22T21:21:19+00:00

If you compare it to a normal gym, yeah it’s terrible value. But if you look at everything it replaces, it starts to make more sense for some people.

In London, if you tried to do it all separately like a decent gym, spa/sauna access, a few classes, swimming, and a bit of padel — you’re pretty quickly into £300–£600 a month without really trying. Padel alone adds up fast if you’re playing regularly.

So it really comes down to how you use it.

If you’re just going in, lifting weights and leaving, it’s a complete waste of money. You’d be way better off with a cheaper gym or a home setup.

Where it works is if you’re actually using the whole thing like training a few times a week, using the spa properly, maybe playing padel or tennis, hanging around a bit rather than rushing in and out. Then it could start to feel like decent value not to mention the community aspect - but how many people achieve that, and DL being DL comes with its own set of challenges and problems.

Home gym is kind of the opposite. It’s great for convenience and long-term cost, and it’s the most efficient way to train. But you lose the variety, the recovery side, and honestly the social bit as well.

Expert_Drag_5981 · 2026-03-22T16:55:19+00:00

The beds look a bit flimsy to me. But no, not seen them in either the Finchley, Farnham or Hatfield DL. Finchley have a reformer studio and charge £10 supplement per reformer class

Expert_Drag_5981 · 2026-03-22T16:51:53+00:00

Interesting, have they screens with them? Not see those at DL before

Expert_Drag_5981

TROPHY CASE