Club rules

All Club Towers’ members and their guests must comply with these Rules, which form part of our contract with you. Compliance with these Rules is important both to maintain the standards at the Club and to enable you to get the maximum enjoyment from your Membership. 

Any person who does not comply with these Rules may be removed from, or denied entry to, the Club, or may have their Membership terminated by Club Towers if the non-compliance is serious or regular.

Within the Club, we display the operational rules relating to each area which you must also comply with.

We reserve the right to make reasonable amendments to these Club Rules, or to the various operational rules, at any time. We will inform you when this occurs.

Definitions: In these Rules, the following definitions apply:

We: Towers Health & Racquets Club also known as Club Towers Ltd.

You: You and any linked member (adult or child) on your membership.

Your Club or The Club – the Towers Health and Racquets Club in Clapham Road, Bedford, MK41 6EL.

Words and phrases in these Rules have the same meanings as in our Membership Terms & Conditions, unless specified otherwise.

Membership, Membership Cards and Guests

Acceptance of an application for Membership at the Club is at our absolute discretion (although we will exercise our discretion reasonably, and in compliance with applicable laws). For further details on membership, membership cards and bringing guests into the club please consult our Terms & Conditions of Membership.

Opening Times and Other General Information

Our opening hours are prominently displayed at the Club and on our web-site. We reserve the right to change these opening hours at any time.

All sporting facilities (excluding café/bar, club lounge and locker rooms) will close 15 minutes before the advertised closing time to allow members time to change.

The Club will be closed for up to 5 days per annum to allow for essential maintenance work to be carried out. These dates will be advertised well in advance. 

You may not bring pets (other than guide dogs) onto the Club premises.

You must not take any photographs or videos in the Club (including by use of a camera on a mobile phone, tablet or other electronic device), without prior written permission from the Club management.

We reserve the right to use any individual or group photographs or movie shots of you for press or promotional purposes. However, where reasonably possible, we will ask you to sign a use of image rights form to consent to this usage.

You must not consume any food or drink in the Club Lounge or on the Sun Terrace that you have brought in from outside the Club, with the exception of water

We reserve the right to show potential Members and other individuals the facilities of the Club on a trial basis.

We reserve the right to run competitions at the Club involving non-members, and will always inform our members when these are due to take place.

Behaviour & Dress

You should conduct yourself in a quiet and well-mannered fashion when in or about the Club, and in a manner that will not disturb or impair the use and enjoyment of the Club by any other person. In particular, you may not use foul, loud, or abusive language, nor will you behave in a threatening manner, nor will you molest or harass other Members, guests, visitors or Members of staff.

You may not bring, use, or be under the influence of illegal drugs in any part of the Club. You may not bring any intoxicating liquor into the Club or be drunk in the Club.

We may terminate your Membership, refuse you entry into the Club, or eject you from the Club, if you commit a serious or repeated breach of these Rules, or the Club Terms and Conditions, or if you engage in any other serious misconduct. For further details, please see our Club Terms & Conditions.

Members of the Club, their guests, visitors and members of staff should at all times display mutual respect for one another.

Complaints should be communicated privately to a member of the Club’s management, or in writing to the Club’s General Manager. See the Club Terms and Conditions for more details.

Smoking, and the use of e-cigarettes or similar devices, is prohibited in any area of the Club (including the car park).

Chewing gum is nor permitted in the club. Please dispose of this in the bins provided prior to entry, and do not litter the carpark with it.

You must be dressed in suitable attire at all times when on Club premises, and appropriate clothing is required whilst exercising in the Club. Guidance as to suitable attire may be obtained from the Duty Manager who may, at his/her discretion, require you to leave the Club premises or part of the Club premises, if your attire is not considered suitable.

Only one individual is permitted in a shower cubicle at any one time (with the exception of a parent or guardian who may take his/her own child aged up to 8 years into a shower cubicle with him/her).

Members are respectfully requested to store coats and rucksacks in the lockers provided.

Health & Safety

You must complete a Health Commitment statement before using any of the Club’s facilities.

You must use the main entrance when entering or leaving the Club, using either your membership card/ fob or the QR code on your phone.

Fire exits, which are clearly marked, are there in the interests of safety and you must not interfere with fire doors for any reason.

You must read the health & safety notices posted outside any equipment or facility rooms in the Club and comply with their recommendations.

You must comply with any reasonable requests made by the members of staff in relation to matters of health and safety.

Lockers

Lockers are made available subject to availability. We do not undertake that use of a locker will guarantee that no theft of or damage to your property will occur. We will not accept any liability in relation to locker thefts unless they result from our negligence. You should check that your household contents or other insurance policy protects you against risk of theft.

Lockers may only be used for the purposes of storing gym kit, toiletries, and the clothing that you were wearing when you came to a Club. The keeping of any other items in the Club’s lockers is prohibited. If we have reasonable grounds to suspect that a locker is being used in breach of this Rule, we reserve the right to open the locker in question (by force if necessary) and remove any offending items.

With the exception of any designated rented lockers, lockers are available for use only while you are on the Club’s premises. Use of a locker (other than any designated rented locker) while not on Club premises is prohibited. If you leave your belongings overnight in a locker (other than in any designated rented locker), we reserve the right to open the locker (by force if necessary) and remove your belongings.

Your belongings, so removed, will be available for collection from Reception for a period of thirty (30) days. If you do not collect your belongings within thirty (30) days, your belongings may be donated to charity.

If you rent a designated locker, and if the rental fees in respect of that locker remain unpaid for more than one (1) month after the date due for payment, we reserve the right to open the locker (by force if necessary) and remove your belongings. Your belongings, so removed, will be available for collection from Reception for a period of thirty (30) days upon payment by you of the unpaid fees along with the reasonable prevailing administration charge. If you do not collect your belongings within thirty (30) days, your belongings may be donated to charity.

Car Parking

Our car park may only be used by Members, guests, and visitors while they are on Club premises. You may not leave your car in our car park at any other time (for example, you may not leave it there following a Club visit while you go to work, go shopping elsewhere, etc.). We perform regular checks in our car park to ensure compliance with this rule.

No unauthorised parking is permitted on Club premises. Car parking spaces are designated and must be used at all times. Cars that are not parked properly in such spaces may be clamped and a fee will be charged for removal of the clamp.

Car park spaces are subject to availability and are not a right of membership.

A number of disabled spaces at the front of the building are marked as open for Parent & Baby parking, for those with babies aged 2 or under .

Members who do not have a blue badge or a baby with them aged 2 or under must not park in the disabled bays.

Our car park has a 10 mph speed limit and members should respect this and drive with due care and attention.

Gym

You must complete a Health Commitment Statement before using any fitness facilities.

You should seek instruction before using unfamiliar equipment. If you are unsure about your ability to perform any exercises please consult a member of staff.

Appropriate and clean exercise clothing and shoes must be worn whilst exercising.

During busy periods, we may ask that you limit your time on certain gym kit to allow all members a fair chance to use it.

You are asked to wipe down gymnasium equipment after use.

You are asked to arrive at the gymnasium five minutes prior to any personal training or induction appointments. We reserve the right to refuse to re-book an appointment for you if you repeatedly cancel (with less than 24 hours’ notice) or fail to keep an appointment for services and/or exercise programmes.

You may not use the gymnasium while under the influence of alcohol, anticoagulants, antihistamines, beta-blockers, narcotics, tranquilizers or any medication, or any other substance which may affect your ability to exercise safely.

Members may only train with our employed Personal Trainers or Gym Instructors. Training in any capacity with an external Personal Trainer, either in person or virtually, is strictly prohibited.

No filming or photography is allowed in the gym at anytime.

Studio Classes

You must complete a Health Commitment Statement before attending any studio classes.

If you are unsure about your ability to perform any exercises in a class, please consult the instructor or a member of staff.

You must pre-book classes to ensure your participation in them. Classes can be booked up to six days in advance, from the time that the class starts. The booking window for classes is exactly 6 days (144 hours) in advance. For example, you may book a 9.30am Pilates class on Weds 28th, from 9.30am on Thursday 22nd (exactly 6 days before the class starts).   

Class timetables and instructors are subject to change from time to time without notice.

You are requested not to open the doors while a class is in progress, as this may disrupt other participants.

In order to avoid disturbing classes, you must arrive in good time. Entrance to classes will be barred to anyone arriving after the class has commenced.

Classes have a maximum capacity assigned to them for your safety. Our instructors will not allow anyone in once classes are full, so please book early to avoid disappointment.

Members may only book one class of the same type per day.  For example, you can only book into one Yoga class on the same day.  If a class has space and is not fully booked, you may then attend a second class of the same type in one day.

Members can advance book up to 5 classes at any one time. This includes booking onto a Waiting List. For example, if you have four class bookings in place and are booked on one waiting list, you cannot book any more classes until either: you attend a class, you cancel a class or you cancel off a waiting list.

An instructor may, at any time, ask you to leave a class if you are jeopardising the safety or enjoyment of others.

Your attendance at a class will be registered by the instructor before the class starts.

When attending a class, you must tick your name off on the booking sheet.

You may not book a class under someone else’s name or by using someone else’s membership.

Any abuse of the class booking system (e.g. falsely registering other members as present or trying to attend a class that you have not booked when it is already full) may result in a class booking ban. 

Class Cancellations and No-Shows

In the interests of all members, Club Towers operates a strict policy with regard to class cancellations and no shows. This ensures fairness for all members and prevents members from abusing the booking process. Classes can be easily cancelled on-line.

(a) If you cancel your class place more than 6 hours beforehand, there will be no penalty (i.e. a 6am class must be cancelled before 12 midnight the previous night). 
(b) You are unable to cancel less than 6 hours before the class starts. If you do not show up for your class, you will have a “strike” recorded against your membership record.
(c) If you have three strikes within a rolling 3 month period, then your booking rights will be removed for 7 days. You may still use the Club and attend classes during this period (if there is space), but you will be unable to book classes in advance.
(d) Strikes automatically “expire” after 3 months. 
(e) If you continue to consistently fail to cancel classes in advance, or fail to turn-up, then your advance booking rights will be suspended entirely.
(f) Club Towers reserves the right to charge members for non-cancelled classes and no-shows.

Swimming Pool and Spa Area

For reasons of health, safety and hygiene you must:

(a) obey the instructions of our Pool Attendants and other pool-side staff; 
(b) always shower before entering the sauna, steam room, spa pool or swimming pool; 
(c) not consume or bring into the changing rooms or swimming pool area, any food or drink (except water) or any kind of glass container; 
(d) only shave in the wash basins provided; 
(e) not attempt to dry clothes or towels in the sauna.
(f) not bring sauna oils or essences, cosmetic products, newspapers/magazines/books or other flammable materials into the sauna as these constitute a serious fire hazard.
(g) not bring oils or essences to the steam room either as pouring them on the steam outlet will create a burn hazard.

(h) Mobile phones and cameras are not permitted in the pool or spa areas at any time. Please leave them in the locker rooms.
(i) Ensure that if you bring a baby into the pool, they are wearing a proper “swimming nappy” at all times.

During busy periods, we may ask that you limit your time in the swimming pool as a courtesy to other members. 

You must: (a) wear long hair tied up, or in a swimming cap whilst in the swimming pool; (b) not run around, jump or dive into the swimming pool; (c) comply with any swimming direction posted in the swimming pool area; (d) wear conventional swimming costumes only.

No balls, floats, or inflatables are permitted in the swimming pool area other than those provided by the Club during lifeguarded sessions. The Club does not loan out equipment outside lifeguarded sessions. Buoyancy aids are permitted at any time.

The swimming pool areas may from time to time be reserved for adults only, aqua classes, swimmers only, or swimming lessons. Prior notice will be displayed on Club notice boards.

Heads should never be submerged in the spa pool.

You may not use the sauna, steam room or spa pool while under the influence of alcohol, anticoagulants, antihistamines, beta-blockers, narcotics, or tranquillisers. If you have high or low blood pressure, heart disease, cardiac irregularities, asthma and/or diabetes, or if you are pregnant you should consult your doctor prior to using our Club facilities.

You should use the steam room, sauna, swimming pool and spa pool (where applicable) in moderation and under medical advice.

When using the steam room and/or sauna, you must wear swimming attire.

Child Members aged under the age of 16 may not use the hydro-pool, sauna or steam facilities, and may not enter the spa area, except to shower before swimming.

Our swimming pool is often not life-guarded, and children under the age of 16 must be supervised by a parent or guardian who is in the pool at all times (see later section for more information).

Racquets

Bookings & Arrivals

Class/Lesson bookings
(a) Advance bookings are needed to secure places for all our classes/ lessons. If you have not booked, Reception can tell you if spaces are available. 
(b) Classes can be booked up to 7 days in advance.
(c) Before starting a class, you’ll need to swipe in at Reception. 
(d) Before doing a session, check that your ability is appropriate for it. If you are unsure, please discuss this with one of our Racquets team.
(e) If you cancel your booking with more than 6 hours’ notice, your booking can be transferred. Cancellations made with less than 6 hours’ notice are non-refundable.

Court bookings
(a) All courts need to be booked before you play to secure them. 
(b) Courts are booked on-line up to seven days in advance from the time you wish to book.  
(c) Members may only book two courts per day.
(d)The Club reserves the right to charge for the use of our courts.
(e) We (the Club) reserves the right to book courts for club matches, tournaments, events and promotional activities at any time. We will try to give advance notice of this, but may not always be able to.

Arrival for courts
(a) Check your court number when you book, or before arrival.
(b) On arrival, swipe in at Reception.
(c) You have 10 minutes from the start of your booked slot to claim your court, after which time the court will be made available to others. If you booked for two hours and are late by more than 10 minutes the court may be claimed by other members for the full two hour booking period.
(d) If all courts are booked but you spot an empty one, you can claim it by speaking to Reception 10 minutes after the beginning of its unclaimed booking. 
(e) If you finish before your booked slot ends, please advise Reception so others can use it.

Cancellations

Courts

In the interests of all members, Club Towers operates a strict policy with regard to court cancellations and no shows. This ensures members do not abuse the booking process. Court bookings can be easily cancelled on-line.
If you continue to consistently fail to cancel courts in advance, or fail to turn-up, then your advance booking rights will be suspended entirely.

The practice of rolling your booking is a form of queue-jumping and is forbidden. For example, if you want to book a 6pm court you must not take possession of earlier bookings on the same court on the same day – for the purpose of cancelling/booking until you book the 6pm court.

Club Towers reserves the right to charge members for non-cancelled court bookings and no-shows.

Lessons
(a) If you cancel more than 48 hours beforehand, there will be no charge.
(b) If you cancel less than 48 hours beforehand, the full lesson price will be charged.

Racquets Dress Code & Etiquette

Dress 
(a) We don’t operate an all-white clothing policy, but only recognised racquets attire should be worn – so no football shirts, Bermuda shorts, Lycra, swimwear, or denim please.
(b) No black soled or dirty shoes are permitted on our squash courts.
(c) You’ll need recognised tennis shoes for our indoor and outdoor tennis courts – black-soled shoes and studded/pimpled astro shoes are not allowed as they damage the court surface. 
(d) We ask that you always wear dedicated tennis and squash shoes on our tennis and squash courts as they have been specifically designed for this purpose. General purpose sports shoes may be worn but may not always provide the same level of grip or support.
(e) If you’re unsure about your attire, just speak to one of our Racquets Team.

Etiquette 
(a) Please only bring drinks on court if they’re in a sealed plastic container. 
(b) Please don’t bring food onto the court.   
(c) Before playing, please wait for the point to finish before walking on court (or walking across courts to reach your own). 
(d) For all on-court timekeeping purposes, refer to our tennis-hall clocks.

Children / Junior Members

General

Child Members, under the age of 16, must be under direct adult (parent or guardian) supervision at all times, unless involved in organised children’s activities, or supervised within our Crèche / Kids Club.

Child Members may only be brought into the Club if accompanied by their Parent, legal guardian, or any other person who has been registered with us as someone who may bring the Child Member into the Club and take responsibility for them.

Our supervised Crèche / Kids Club operates on weekdays from 9.00 -13.00 (see below for more details). Places are limited, and can be booked and paid for in advance. You may be asked to remove your child from our crèche, if, in the opinion of management, the child is upset, ill, or is causing problems for staff.

You must pay for your session at the time of booking. No refund will be given for cancellations with less than 12 hours’ notice.

Child Members under the age of 8 may change in either sex changing room, under supervision. Child Members aged 8-15 years must change in the changing room of their own sex.

Child members aged 12-15 may use the tennis and squash courts with another child of the same age, without direct supervision, provided that:

  • It is in off-peak hours (peak time use is allowed if the court is free on the day).
  • The parent/guardian remains in the Club.
  • Reception has been informed that the children are on court on their own and the planned location of the parent/guardian within the Club.
  • The children are a good enough standard to understand court rules/etiquette and exhibit good behaviour.

The Club reserves the right to insist children only play with an adult, or under direct adult supervision, in the event of any abuse of the above rules.

Soft Play

Our Soft Play is for the use of children of 1.15m and under only (please see height chart in Soft Play). Any children using Soft Play must remain under the supervision of their Parent/ Guardian at all times. For the avoidance of doubt, supervising adults must remain in the soft play with their child and the child must be in their direct line of sight at all times. Any children using the soft play equipment without the direct supervision of an adult will be asked to leave. 

Swimming Pool Area

Child Members aged under the age of 16 may not use the hydro-pool, sauna or steam facilities, and may not enter the spa area, except to shower before swimming.

Our swimming pool is often not life-guarded, and children under the age of 16 must be supervised in the swimming pool by a parent or guardian (who is also in the pool) at all times (see latest timetable for life-guarded, family sessions).

The following rules apply to children in the swimming pool. 

  • Children may only use the swimming pool during the advertised times posted on the timetable within the Club and on our web-site. These times may vary on occasion.
  • We operate strict adult-to-child ratios.
  • Child aged 0-3 years – one adult per child. 
  • Child aged 4-7 years – one adult per two children. 
  • Child aged 8-16 years – one adult per three children.

Supervising adults must be in the water within reach of the child, not on the swimming pool surrounds, in the spa area or on the outside patio area.

  • Adults are responsible for the active and constant supervision of their children while they are in and around the swimming pool.  
  • Adults may leave their children aged 12-15 in the swimming pool as long as the pool is lifeguarded, it is advertised as a family swim time and the child is a strong enough swimmer. Our lifeguard may ask them to leave if they consider them insufficiently strong. The adult then may use the rest of the club’s facilities but must not leave the club at any time.
  • In the interests of hygiene, babies using the pool must wear a proper “swimming nappy” at all times. These can be purchased from Reception.   

Gym & Classes

As a general rule, children aged under-16 are not allowed in the gym or studios.

Children aged 12 -15 years may use the gym at certain, advertised times, either under parental supervision or in gym / studio classes that are supervised by the Club’s instructors. Please refer to our latest class timetables for details of the times of these classes.  

Children aged 16 or over may use the gymnasium without parental supervision. Parents/guardians must ensure that children aged 16 or over are aware of the Club’s Terms and Conditions and the Club Rules.

Crèche and Supervised Kids Club Activities

Parents or guardians are required to:

  • Complete registration forms for all children before access to the crèche is permitted.
  • Allow adequate time to sign in and settle their children.
  • Remain on site at a Club at all times while their children are in the crèche.
  • Provide all nappies, wipes, snacks and drinks required during the child’s visit.
  • Collect their children in person. Another person may only collect their child when specific arrangements have been made, and agreed, with the crèche management, and a signed authorisation provided.
  • Ensure that children are appropriately dressed.
  • Inform a member of the crèche management if their children have special needs.

Children must not be brought into the crèche if suffering from any infectious illness or condition such as vomiting or diarrhoea.

Club Lounge

We are happy for members to sit and work in the Club Lounge or Quiet Lounge for an hour or two before or after exercise, but members should not base themselves there to work for a whole day.

During busy periods, those working alone in Club Lounge may be asked to move the Quiet Lounge or onto a smaller table.

Please be considerate to other members when in the lounge by not making phone or video calls or staying too long if others arrive.