The New Gym on the Block: Why Kilo is Worth the Pounds

A new challeger to the university gym has emerged

As much as I like our student gym, the sight of hordes of people occupying every single machine makes my heart sink every time I go. I get there hoping for a simple hour-long push day, yet I leave three hours later, having trained my patience more than my chest. So, when I heard that a new gym had opened up in St Andrews, I decided to take a look for myself.

When I visited last week, I was given a tour of the facilities by Ruadhan Cowan, the owner of Kilo Club St Andrews. The gym has two rooms, one for functional exercises and another which is more bodybuilding-oriented. The functional room has, among other things, a number of treadmills and bikes for cardio, as well as a sledge on astro turf. It’s a well-designed space and has a very new, welcoming feel to it, but the gym really sets itself apart with the second room. 

There is a wealth of machines to choose from, with some really unique options, as well. Those that stood out to me in particular were the single-leg hamstring curl machine and the combo rack, the latter of which has proven very popular with the town’s powerlifters. If all that’s not enough, the gym even has its very own resident dog: Beans the cockador.

Given the number of people in the gym, it was hard to believe the range of machines and equipment. I went on a Thursday, which is typically the gym’s quietest day, but Cowan assured me that overcrowding will never be an issue. He plans to cap the number of members at around 500, leaving roughly 50 spaces open. 

The attitude of prioritising the customer experience over milking profits is refreshing and has helped to build the community of gym-goers — professional athletes and newbies alike — who frequent Kilo Club. Cowan also makes a point of listening to the wants and needs of his community, the same wants and needs which often get lost in a commercial gym. The conscious effort to listen has resulted in a friendly environment which is carefully tailored to the people who use it.

Now, let’s crunch the numbers. For the academic year (that is, until the end of May), you can access the university gym for £221. That is cheaper than Kilo Club, which offers a 12-month pass for £450 or a recurring monthly pass at £45. What really makes a difference is if you play sports at uni. With the ‘Bolt On’ membership, members of (almost) any sports team can use the gym at the discounted rate of £103 per year, a price which no private gym can feasibly match.

I would say that the gym you choose depends greatly on what you hope to get out of your time. For some people, the cheaper option is more than adequate, and the trade-off of time is a fair price to pay. If you take fitness very seriously, Kilo Club could certainly be the option for you, with its plentiful range of high-quality equipment. 

At the same time, if you’re someone like me and your motivation to work out is fleeting at best, it can be demoralising to wait ten minutes every time you want to change exercise. If the queues are keeping you from going at all, I would again recommend you spend that extra bit and switch to the new gym in town.

One aspect which often goes unmentioned in conversations about fitness is the fact that the gym can be an incredibly overwhelming place; it’s common for newcomers to feel uncomfortable, and for some, a room packed with people they know is not the best place to start their fitness journey. 

If that resonates with you, then a smaller, private gym like Kilo Club could be a more suitable place to start. I must say, though, as someone who started going to the gym at the University Sports Centre and who is still relatively new to working out, I think it still has had a welcoming, positive atmosphere and is great for people of all levels of experience.

Ultimately, the choice is yours, and I would encourage you to book a free tour of Kilo Club if you are interested in joining or changing gyms.

Image by Kilo Gym Club