Nutrition · At the club
Club cafes and eating at the club: what is on the menu, what it costs, and the £150-a-month habit
The cafe is where premium clubs make their second margin and where members quietly spend more than they think. What each chain serves, what a post-training meal and shake costs, the nutritional reality of the menu, and how to use the cafe well.
Updated September 2026 · Prices and facilities are illustrative and need verification
Chain by chain
| Chain | Cafe | Post-workout shake | Main meal | Coffee | Nutrition info | Our read |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Lloyd | Clubroom; family-friendly menu | £5.50 to £7 | £9 to £15 | £3 to £3.80 | Calories on some items | Good for families; a destination cafe |
| Third Space | Natural Fitness Food | £7 to £9 | £12 to £18 | £3.50 to £4.20 | Full macros | The best club food in the UK; priced accordingly |
| Virgin Active | Cafe at most clubs | £5.50 to £7.50 | £9 to £14 | £3 to £3.80 | Some | Variable by club |
| Nuffield Health | Cafe at larger clubs | £5 to £6.50 | £8 to £12 | £2.80 to £3.50 | Limited | Functional |
| Harbour Club | Restaurant-standard | £7 to £9 | £14 to £22 | £3.50 to £4.50 | Some | You can take a meeting here |
| Equinox | Cafe and juice bar | £8 to £10 | £12 to £18 | £4 to £4.50 | Macros | US prices |
| Bannatyne | Cafe bar | £4.50 to £6 | £7 to £11 | £2.80 to £3.30 | Limited | Regional value |
Illustrative menu prices, September 2026; verify at your club.
The £150 habit
A shake and a coffee after each of four weekly sessions is £40 to £50 a week, £170 to £220 a month, more than many memberships. It is a pleasant part of the ritual and it is fine if you have priced it in. If you have not, a shaker in the locker and a coffee at home halves the monthly cost of your club without changing your training.
What the menu is, nutritionally
Club menus have improved: grain bowls, proper protein portions, less deep-frying. They remain restaurant portions with restaurant fat and salt; a “healthy” bowl can run 700 to 900 calories, and juices and smoothies are sugar. Third Space and Equinox publish full macros, which is the right standard; ask other chains to do the same. Match the meal to the session, not the label.
Using it well
The cafe is excellent for the post-training meal you would otherwise skip, for a family lunch that keeps the weekend at the club, and for the working-from-club day that premium memberships increasingly enable. It is poor value as a daily coffee shop. See protein explained (not yet available) for what the post-workout meal actually needs.
Alcohol
Yes, most premium club bars serve it, and yes, a glass after a Sunday swim is part of the appeal for many members. It undoes some of the recovery you just did. Occasional is fine; habitual, see the spa etiquette page for why it does not mix with heat or cold.
FAQs
Common questions
How much is a protein shake at David Lloyd?
Typically £5.50 to £7 at the Clubroom, depending on club and add-ins. Verify locally.
Do gym cafes show nutritional information?
Third Space and Equinox publish full macros; David Lloyd shows calories on some items; most others provide limited information. Ask.