Latest reviews for Sports & Leisure in London, United Kingdom

The Real Fight Club - The Real Fight Club by diego1976

diego1976 — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 14:01:34 +0000

Review by diego1976

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7247 2358

Website: www.trfc.tv

Tags: boxing gym, white collar boxing, white-collar boxing

When Brad Pitt began slugging it out with bored executives in the movie Fight Club, some critics thought the plot so ridiculous that they suggested the director might have been punch drunk. But in a bizarre case of life imitating art, Britain's flabby office types are taking to the ring in their hundreds in a new phenomenon called white-collar boxing.

When Brad Pitt began slugging it out with bored executives in the movie Fight Club, some critics thought the plot so ridiculous that they suggested the director might have been punch drunk. But in a bizarre case of life imitating art, Britain's flabby office types are taking to the ring in their hundreds in a new phenomenon called white-collar boxing.

London "fight nights", where a barrister might go toe-to-toe with a judge, or a broker might square up to a doctor, are attracting thousands of spectators and a small army of virgin competitors.

So successful has the new executive sport become that its innovators in the UK are in talks with partners to build a Â£2m-plus boxing complex for white-collar workers in the City of London.

As in the film, City workers talk of recognising a fellow boxer by the occasional black eye, and they claim to feel fitter, happier and more in control as a result of their pugilistic enterprises.

White-collar boxing has been growing steadily in popularity in the US for about 15 years, since one fabled night when two wealthy insurance tycoons decided to fight out their differences in the ring instead of breaking each other's companies in the market-place.

It was introduced into the UK in a small way about two years ago by a company called The Real Fight Club (www.trfc.tv) but has taken off in a big way over the past 12 months.

The company hosts evenings on almost every month basis at hotel venues in the capital, with dinner, entertainment and about eight bouts costing in the region of Â£150 a ticket. Office workers who fancy their chances in the ring must let the promoters know in advance and undergo training for anything from one to six months before they are allowed to box. But when they do, their friends, family and colleagues are there to see them either live out their dream or face up to their demons.

With an emphasis on safety, the fight nights are often designed to produce no winners. Simply competing is considered brave enough to elicit respect from an audience baying more for camaraderie than blood.

"In this society, certain people are afraid of becoming a desk jockey with no visceral output for their aggression," said Adrian King, the chief executive officer of The Real Fight Club. "We have become passive consumers under the influence of ubiquitous brands, so people are screaming for the kind of individuality it is difficult to attain in a corporate environment, where there are 1,000 lemmings pushing a corporation vehicle forward.

"In a way, this is where the film got it right because, when you get into that ring, there are no certainties. It is just you, and for a few minutes you feel like Muhammad Ali."

Mr King says 400 Real Fight Club boxers are now active in London, a small army that is stretching the numbers of boxing gyms available. Some of them train at the Kronk gym in Kentish Town, north London, where, for just Â£10 a session, they can benefit from the advice of experienced boxers including Spencer Fearon and Errol Christie.

But facilities are still scarce so The Real Fight Club is working on plans for a 24,000 square foot boxing complex and fitness club in Holborn, on the edge of the Square Mile.

During the day, Michael Field, 53, who has two sons and two step daughters, sits behind a desk dishing out advice on corporate investments. As a founding partner of Hamilton Field, based in the City, he has to be mentally agile. But white-collar boxing has made him fast on his feet, too. "I had a personal trainer who was interested in boxing, so I was doing a few work-outs with him before I heard about the Real Fight Club," he said.

"I've had three bouts now, and I've done ok. I was really nervous before my first fight, but it went well. It's incredibly exciting. While you're in the ring, it's like being a child on a helter-skelter. There is an unknown aspect of uncertainty and overcoming the fear factor.

"But the camaraderie is fantastic. There is no question of trying to hurt anyone unnecessarily. Everyone is properly trained, well-matched and assessed by a doctor. The main thing is to acquit yourself well."

Alex Mehta, 32, a doctor in law and qualified barrister, spends his days providing legal services to companies and individuals. But at night he trains at the gym and has had five white-collar fights in the past year.

"I used to do a little amateur boxing at university, but nothing as regular as this," he said. "It's wonderful. In the past, the most exciting things I did were having a cappucino for breakfast and a croissant for lunch.

"Like most people, I could tell you what my house is worth, what my ISAs are worth and what my pension will bring in. It's boring; but then you get in the ring and your corporate existence just disappears. I was never born to sit behind a desk. I'd like to have been an 18th-century explorer or a conquistador. Fight Club is the next best thing."

When Brad Pitt began slugging it out with bored executives in the movie Fight Club, some critics thought the plot so ridiculous that they suggested the director might have been punch drunk. But in a bizarre case of life imitating art, Britain's flabby office types are taking to the ring in their hundreds in a new phenomenon called white-collar boxing.

When Brad Pitt began slugging it out with bored executives in the movie Fight Club, some critics thought the plot so ridiculous that they suggested the director might have been punch drunk. But in a bizarre case of life imitating art, Britain's flabby office types are taking to the ring in their hundreds in a new phenomenon called white-collar boxing.

London "fight nights", where a barrister might go toe-to-toe with a judge, or a broker might square up to a doctor, are attracting thousands of spectators and a small army of virgin competitors.

So successful has the new executive sport become that its innovators in the UK are in talks with partners to build a Â£2m-plus boxing complex for white-collar workers in the City of London.

As in the film, City workers talk of recognising a fellow boxer by the occasional black eye, and they claim to feel fitter, happier and more in control as a result of their pugilistic enterprises.

White-collar boxing has been growing steadily in popularity in the US for about 15 years, since one fabled night when two wealthy insurance tycoons decided to fight out their differences in the ring instead of breaking each other's companies in the market-place.

It was introduced into the UK in a small way about two years ago by a company called The Real Fight Club (www.trfc.tv) but has taken off in a big way over the past 12 months.

The company hosts evenings on almost every month basis at hotel venues in the capital, with dinner, entertainment and about eight bouts costing in the region of Â£150 a ticket. Office workers who fancy their chances in the ring must let the promoters know in advance and undergo training for anything from one to six months before they are allowed to box. But when they do, their friends, family and colleagues are there to see them either live out their dream or face up to their demons.

With an emphasis on safety, the fight nights are often designed to produce no winners. Simply competing is considered brave enough to elicit respect from an audience baying more for camaraderie than blood.

"In this society, certain people are afraid of becoming a desk jockey with no visceral output for their aggression," said Adrian King, the chief executive officer of The Real Fight Club. "We have become passive consumers under the influence of ubiquitous brands, so people are screaming for the kind of individuality it is difficult to attain in a corporate environment, where there are 1,000 lemmings pushing a corporation vehicle forward.

"In a way, this is where the film got it right because, when you get into that ring, there are no certainties. It is just you, and for a few minutes you feel like Muhammad Ali."

Mr King says 400 Real Fight Club boxers are now active in London, a small army that is stretching the numbers of boxing gyms available. Some of them train at the Kronk gym in Kentish Town, north London, where, for just Â£10 a session, they can benefit from the advice of experienced boxers including Spencer Fearon and Errol Christie.

But facilities are still scarce so The Real Fight Club is working on plans for a 24,000 square foot boxing complex and fitness club in Holborn, on the edge of the Square Mile.

During the day, Michael Field, 53, who has two sons and two step daughters, sits behind a desk dishing out advice on corporate investments. As a founding partner of Hamilton Field, based in the City, he has to be mentally agile. But white-collar boxing has made him fast on his feet, too. "I had a personal trainer who was interested in boxing, so I was doing a few work-outs with him before I heard about the Real Fight Club," he said.

"I've had three bouts now, and I've done ok. I was really nervous before my first fight, but it went well. It's incredibly exciting. While you're in the ring, it's like being a child on a helter-skelter. There is an unknown aspect of uncertainty and overcoming the fear factor.

"But the camaraderie is fantastic. There is no question of trying to hurt anyone unnecessarily. Everyone is properly trained, well-matched and assessed by a doctor. The main thing is to acquit yourself well."

Alex Mehta, 32, a doctor in law and qualified barrister, spends his days providing legal services to companies and individuals. But at night he trains at the gym and has had five white-collar fights in the past year.

"I used to do a little amateur boxing at university, but nothing as regular as this," he said. "It's wonderful. In the past, the most exciting things I did were having a cappucino for breakfast and a croissant for lunch.

"Like most people, I could tell you what my house is worth, what my ISAs are worth and what my pension will bring in. It's boring; but then you get in the ring and your corporate existence just disappears. I was never born to sit behind a desk. I'd like to have been an 18th-century explorer or a conquistador. Fight Club is the next best thing."

Westway Sports Centre - Westway Climbing Wall by Plewcock

Plewcock — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 21:19:41 +0000

Review by Plewcock

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 8969 0992

Website: http://www.westway.org

Tags: sports, tennis

Went to the centre purely for the climbing wall - have no real intention to use it for anything else, but for the walls alone, this place is great. There are plenty of different routes (50+??) to rope climb, a wall for traversing and another for free climbing etc. And on sunny days, there's a interesting concrete shape/wall outside. Highly recommended.Went to the centre purely for the climbing wall - have no real intention to use it for anything else, but for the walls alone, this place is great. There are plenty of different routes (50+??) to rope climb, a wall for traversing and another for free climbing etc. And on sunny days, there's a interesting concrete shape/wall outside. Highly recommended.

Oasis Sports Centre - Oasis in a concrete jungle by Frankie

Frankie — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 23:37:44 +0000

Review by Frankie

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7831 1804

Tags: cool, outdoor, fitness

The only public HEATED outdoor pool that I know in London. (If you know of another one, please share.)

Oasis is actually one of the main Camden sports centres. If you're a resident or work in Camden, it's cheaper. It has a gym and exercise classes (all the usual things) but I can't recommend those bits as I only go for the pool.
There's two pools, side by side. One indoors and one outdoors and it's the outdoors one that's the real oasis.

It's lovely during the winter when it's icelandically steamy. Remember to take flip flops or you'll have frost bitten toes before you get in. Summer is beautiful too - I think it's the afternoon when it gets the sun. Dive down and swim up through a fizz of bubbles... There's space to sunbathe or picnic on a boat-like upper deck which overlooks the water. The little cafe is indoors and also overlooks the swimming antics going on outside. You can get a cheese and tomato toasty or something.

Practical info: one end of the pool is very deep so you could dive if you wanted. Length around 25m. Fast lane, medium and slow. There are lots of kids in the summer holidays. The changing rooms are a bit grim (freezing in winter) and you need the right change for the lockers. Ask directions from the changing rooms to the pool - it's a maze of corridors. Cost is average price for a swim in London.

Found this excellent link with a virtual tour of the centre (although strangely, it doesn't show the swimming pool very much!).

http://www3.camden.gov.uk/leisure/sport/oasis/

tel:020 7831 1804The only public HEATED outdoor pool that I know in London. (If you know of another one, please share.)

Oasis is actually one of the main Camden sports centres. If you're a resident or work in Camden, it's cheaper. It has a gym and exercise classes (all the usual things) but I can't recommend those bits as I only go for the pool.
There's two pools, side by side. One indoors and one outdoors and it's the outdoors one that's the real oasis.

It's lovely during the winter when it's icelandically steamy. Remember to take flip flops or you'll have frost bitten toes before you get in. Summer is beautiful too - I think it's the afternoon when it gets the sun. Dive down and swim up through a fizz of bubbles... There's space to sunbathe or picnic on a boat-like upper deck which overlooks the water. The little cafe is indoors and also overlooks the swimming antics going on outside. You can get a cheese and tomato toasty or something.

Practical info: one end of the pool is very deep so you could dive if you wanted. Length around 25m. Fast lane, medium and slow. There are lots of kids in the summer holidays. The changing rooms are a bit grim (freezing in winter) and you need the right change for the lockers. Ask directions from the changing rooms to the pool - it's a maze of corridors. Cost is average price for a swim in London.

Found this excellent link with a virtual tour of the centre (although strangely, it doesn't show the swimming pool very much!).

http://www3.camden.gov.uk/leisure/sport/oasis/

tel:020 7831 1804

The Oval - Cracking cricket by NikoTheFinn

NikoTheFinn — Wed, 27 Sep 2006 13:46:12 +0000

Review by NikoTheFinn

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7820 5755

Website: http://www.surreyccc.co.uk/

Tags: fun, outdoors, sports

Smashing, i say, what-o. Cricket, old chap, tally-ho. The glorious sound of willow on leather, say what? Glass of port, and a cucumber sandwich, what what?

Yes indeed, cricket is played at the Oval. And while it is probably a sacrilege for me, a heathen Finn and non-player of the noble game, to be writing this review, i'm going to risk the wrath of the purists out there.

Why am i writing this review? Because i had a simply smashing day out here one time, simply smashing, watching England unexpectedly beat Pakistan on the fourth day of play. Having initially arrived at the Oval rather sceptical about whether or not i would enjoy myself, i found myself riveted by the action, thanks to about 8 cans of strong lager and expert commentary from the one and only Brierley, whose father is a member of the Surrey County Cricket Club. This cricketing celebrity connection secured our posse of ten rowdy young auditors access to the members-only section, where i promptly managed to spill some very posh old gentleman's bottle of '89 Chauteau Lafite-Rothschild into his picnic hamper, thereby ruining the prawn sandwiches and his bouffon-haired wife's chocolate blanc mange.

Regardless of the little mishap, we retained our places right at the edge of the action, and i found myself getting more and more drawn into the game. As the gentle summer light faded into twilight, England dismissed the last of the Pakistani batsmen, and the crowd went wild. We all charged the pitch, jumping and squealing for joy.

What can i say? i enjoyed a game of cricket, my one and only game of cricket, and i am not ashamed to say so. So, if you have never been, i urge you to go. Smashing, i say, what-o. Cricket, old chap, tally-ho. The glorious sound of willow on leather, say what? Glass of port, and a cucumber sandwich, what what?

Yes indeed, cricket is played at the Oval. And while it is probably a sacrilege for me, a heathen Finn and non-player of the noble game, to be writing this review, i'm going to risk the wrath of the purists out there.

Why am i writing this review? Because i had a simply smashing day out here one time, simply smashing, watching England unexpectedly beat Pakistan on the fourth day of play. Having initially arrived at the Oval rather sceptical about whether or not i would enjoy myself, i found myself riveted by the action, thanks to about 8 cans of strong lager and expert commentary from the one and only Brierley, whose father is a member of the Surrey County Cricket Club. This cricketing celebrity connection secured our posse of ten rowdy young auditors access to the members-only section, where i promptly managed to spill some very posh old gentleman's bottle of '89 Chauteau Lafite-Rothschild into his picnic hamper, thereby ruining the prawn sandwiches and his bouffon-haired wife's chocolate blanc mange.

Regardless of the little mishap, we retained our places right at the edge of the action, and i found myself getting more and more drawn into the game. As the gentle summer light faded into twilight, England dismissed the last of the Pakistani batsmen, and the crowd went wild. We all charged the pitch, jumping and squealing for joy.

What can i say? i enjoyed a game of cricket, my one and only game of cricket, and i am not ashamed to say so. So, if you have never been, i urge you to go.

Queens Club - Tennis, second only to Wimbledon by NikoTheFinn

NikoTheFinn — Wed, 27 Sep 2006 13:23:20 +0000

Review by NikoTheFinn

Rating: 4.00

Tags: fun, family-friendly, sports

The Queens Club at Barons Court claims to be the first-ever multipurpose sports complex built anywhere in the world, but to me it is best known for its tennis. The week before Wimbledon the Queens Club hosts the Stella Artois Championships, a handy training ground for would-be Wimbledon contenders. Much cheaper than Wimbledon, and with better ticket availabilty (i managed to get tickets for the final 2 years running, for only GBP40 per ticket), this is a great day out. The venue is compact, serves good food and drinks for slightly less than extortionate prices, and gets you as close to the players and the action as you'd want to be.

if you are very rich and very posh and know multiple members of the royal family then you can probably become a playing member of their rackets club for the price of a small duchy.The Queens Club at Barons Court claims to be the first-ever multipurpose sports complex built anywhere in the world, but to me it is best known for its tennis. The week before Wimbledon the Queens Club hosts the Stella Artois Championships, a handy training ground for would-be Wimbledon contenders. Much cheaper than Wimbledon, and with better ticket availabilty (i managed to get tickets for the final 2 years running, for only GBP40 per ticket), this is a great day out. The venue is compact, serves good food and drinks for slightly less than extortionate prices, and gets you as close to the players and the action as you'd want to be.

if you are very rich and very posh and know multiple members of the royal family then you can probably become a playing member of their rackets club for the price of a small duchy.