Good for people who are especially keen on 1 ______
Quite expensive; the 2 ______ is a good place for a drink
IronWorks
In Barton Street next to the supermarket
Mainly for 3 ______ training; good for groups
Staff are very friendly; pay a £30 joining fee; limited choice of 4 ______ classes
The 5 ______
On the fourth floor of a 6 ______
The 7 ______ are excellent; only uses 8 ______ products
Membership costs £9 ______ a month; lockers are 10 ______ size
Keys
1. cardio
2. café
3. strength
4. evening
5. Verve
6. hotel
7. facilities
8. organic
9. 90
10. large
Transcripts
Part 1: You will hear a conversation between two people about joining a gym.
Alex: Hi! I’ve been meaning to ask you for some advice about gyms. I want to join somewhere near work, but I’m not sure which one is best. I’ve looked online, but the websites all sound the same and it’s hard to tell what the places are really like.
Maya: I know what you mean. If you want somewhere convenient and well-run, I’d recommend Pulse Fitness. I joined a few months ago and it’s been great, especially because it’s easy to fit it in before or after work.
Alex: Where is it exactly? I don’t want somewhere that takes ages to get to.
Maya: It’s on Meadowfield Road, that’s M E A D O W F I E L D, Meadowfield, only about a three-minute walk from the metro station, so you don’t need to drive. It’s also well-lit in the evening, which is useful in winter.
Alex: That sounds ideal. What’s it best for? I’m trying to get fitter, not just lift heavy weights.
Maya: The equipment is excellent, especially if you’re keen on cardio, there are loads of treadmills and bikes, and they rarely run out even at busy times. It’s always clean too, and the staff wipe everything down regularly, which I really appreciate.
Alex: Is it expensive? I don’t want to spend a fortune every month.
Maya: It’s not cheap, but it’s fine for what you get. And the café downstairs is a nice place to grab a drink after training, or even just meet a friend if you finish at different times.
Alex: Okay, that’s one to consider. Are there any other options, maybe something a bit more relaxed?
Maya: If you want a more casual vibe, try IronWorks. It’s quite new, so everything still feels fresh.
Alex: Where’s that? I don’t think I’ve seen it.
Maya: It’s on Barton Street, next to the supermarket. It’s more focused on strength training, and it’s good if you’re going with friends, because there’s plenty of space to move around and it doesn’t feel cramped.
Alex: I like the sound of that. Any downsides?
Maya: The staff are really friendly, but there’s a joining fee, thirty pounds, actually, let me be clear, that’s three zero, thirty pounds. Also, the selection of evening classes is a bit limited, so if you rely on classes after work, it might not be ideal.
Alex: Right, that could be an issue. Anything else worth looking at?
Maya: One more idea, have you heard of Verve?
Alex: No. How do you spell it?
Maya: V E R V E.
Alex: Okay. Where is it?
Maya: It’s in that hotel near Riverside Plaza, on the fourth floor.
Alex: Oh, so the views must be amazing from up there.
Maya: Yeah, it’s quite high-end, but the facilities are excellent. They only use organic products in the showers, which people love, and the whole place feels a bit more like a club than a standard gym.
Alex: It sounds fancy. What does it cost?
Maya: Membership is eighty a month. No, sorry, I’m mixing it up with another place. It’s ninety pounds, ninety pounds a month. And the lockers are a large size, so you can fit everything in easily, your bag, coat, even a laptop if you come straight from work.
