Ben Dunne Gyms

I’m going to this gym for over a year now. And I am really not disappointed. I’m not gonna lie, this is not the best gym of the town. But it does exactly what it promises you. This is not a fancy gym with a massive swimming pool and a sauna etc…
You have a lot of equipment and free weights on the second floor.
One big negative point: because the price is so cheap, it’s often really packed. But I never had to wait to use the cardio machine as elliptical, bike or treadmills.

Does exactly what it says on the tin. This a gym.
No fancy swimming pools, or kids areas etc just 2 floors to train on.
Good selection of equipment, have never seen it too packed.
Great price and always some sort of deal on for new members.

Awful, dirty, smelly and overpopulated.
I went a couple of times and I quit.
Always a big queue for the main machines which always made me feel bad.
I’m not a specialist in machines and I take my time to do my exercises. I don’t like to be interrupted 3 times for big super guys asking if Im almist done.
When I entered I wasn’t a specialist in gym so I didn’t know how some of the machines work and no one in the staff could explain me that. However the staff was nice, sometimes. I forgot my locker sometimes and they borrowed me one.

I’m in this gym for over a year. It’is not that fancy as other Ben Dunne gyms but you can find there all necessary equipment to do a good workout. 2 squat racks, 40kg max weight dumbbells, 4 flat benches, 2 incline, lots of free weights, plenty of treadmills and crosstrainers if you fancy a bit of cardio. Don’t expect facilities such as pool, sauna or jacuzzi. You can have a shower if you bring your own shower gel :)
Biggest advantage is a very affordable price — cheapest membership around Dublin city centre.
Biggest disadvantage — it’s packed in the afternoons and in the evenings so best time for workout there is in the morning,
One more important thing — there are separate little lockers for valuable things provided in the weight rooms — as lockers in changing rooms aren’t safe and they get robbed very often.
Wouldn’t recommend it to beginners as there’s no free instructors.
Convenient gym for gym junkies working around Dublin city centre.

I’m not a massive gym nut but I do my best. Super cheap and really ideal for someone only joining the world of a gym.
The staff helped me out in terms of showing me around and coming up with a basic foundation plan. The general atmosphere is really friendly.
Ideal for anyone working in the city or living on red line.
Proper gym heads may complain but for me it’s great!

Pleasantly surprised by this place. Had my first visit tonight. I’d ruled out Dublin gyms as way too expensive, but at 169 for a year this is extremely cheap, especially with free classes. It’s very much no frills, no TVs, only a few showers and hairdryers, no shampoo etc but it makes up for that in size. At peak after work time there was no wait for any of the cardio machines. The staff seem really friendly and helpful as well, which is a bonus. Definitely worth the money.

I’ve been working out at this gym for three years, and when I first started it was the best gym in Dublin city centre. The membership price for this gym is very good: you do get value for money here. But the number one problem with this gym, and the reason I’m giving it a critical review, is that the members have very poor etiquette and bad gym habits. No one puts their weights back on the rack after finishing their work outs, and the management have done nothing to correct this bad habit. This means that it often takes forever to find the weights you need. Granted, there is a real focus on free-​weights at this gym that is much appreciated. But they become useless if you can’t actually locate them. Moreover, with free-​weights littered all over the floor, often in random spots, the gym becomes messy and *dangerous*. Since you have to carry your weights sometimes across the gym in order to use them (because someone has left them in the wrong spot rather than on the racks), you also have to negotiate an obstacle course of dumbbells, barbells, and other weights just sitting on the floor. It’s literally hazardous.
The price is great, but the gym is very basic: not a lot of classes offered, the locker room is cramped and small, no soap in the shower areas. Some of the equipment is beginning to show wear and tear and needs up-​keep that doesn’t seem to be happening. They desperately need to purchase another squat rack (the ones there are always in use).

This gym is such great value. I have never had to wait for a machine. Works out at about 14 quid a month when you pay up front. So I don’t feel as guilty when I don’t go. Very standard but they have introduced some classes now too. Spinning, yoga and Pilates. Hope that they increase the variety though as time goes on.
My pet hate about it though is that the weights area is a bit intimidating. The guys are a bit territorial. That’s not the gyms fault though.
It doesn’t have the amenities such as tv’s on treadmills or a pool but then I’m not paying 60 or 80 quid so that doesn’t bother me. If you like cardio and weights then it’s the place for you.

I came over to Dublin from the States on a 10 day holiday. I messaged various gyms in the area, but most were uninterested in giving me a reasonable rate for a week pass. Ben Dunnes was different, they got back to me with haste and told me to come on in and they would take care of me. Sure enough they did! The gentleman I spoke to on Facebook was an absolute gem and the young lady and gentleman at the desk were extremely nice and helpful. They sorted me out with a more than generous week pass offer and told me to enjoy.
Now, about the facility. It was immaculate, a gyms this clean in the states would demand a premium for all the amenities offered. Throughout Europe most of the gyms I’ve found stay away from free weights, not Bens. There was a full section of free weights along with various ellipticals, treadmills and rowing machines. Now if you want really big weights, head to the second level, rows of racks await you with ample amounts of weight. There was no snobbery here and if you felt like doing Pilates in section or doing some HIIT moves like power cleans then it is perfectly ok. So far my trip to Dublin has been amazing and the people have been lovely, that has been proven in large by the Staff at Ben Dunnes gym. Come here and you will not be disappointed in a gym that embodies Irish friendliness and brotherhood. Thanks guys for making my trip that much better. Oh and one other thing… It may look like a 45lb weight but remember it’s Kg.

I was very excited to see a gym open in the area and it delivered. Opened early enough so I could get a workout before work (yes, I’m one of those people!). The only drawback is the lack of pool but the equipment, the friendliness and professionalism of the staff makes up for it and then some.
I give it four because of the pool/​sauna but also because it’s a rather small gym.
I recently had a small dispute with them that was resolved fast and pleasantly. I would definitely recommand that gym if you don’t mind the lack of pool.

After a month of my arrival in Dublin and indulging in all the lovely Irish dairy (seriously the butter here is amazeballs), I thought I’d better get back on the fitness wagon. You know, a single boy gotta do what a single boy has to do!
The sign up process online was simple enough and registering at the front desk was a breeze although I stood too close to the camera for my membership card so I look like this inflated duck. Oh well, all the more motivation to get trim.
The gym was a lot bigger than I thought; I was surprised there were two floors — the reception floor more cardio friendly and mostly for the ladies, the top floor for the bigger range of weights suited for those testosterone fuelled lads. As most other gyms, weights and dumbbells are all over the shop so it does take a good serious hunt for that specific one you are after.
Changing room was clean and functional — quite a few lads checking themselves out in the mirror which can be unsettling. Oh and cold water coolers — it sounds like a trivial thing but I hate drinking tepid water while working out, meh.
All in all, I think it’s great value for money and can’t wait to kick my ass back into shape!

This is a decent gym. Plenty of running machines, cross trainers & weights. If this is what suits you then it works for very little money, € 130 for 6 months, and it worked for me.
Yes, there is noise, if you are running downstairs and you haven’t got a decent pair of earphones. But other than that it is a gym with the basic things you need.

Just got home from my first day at Ben Dunne. I thought the gym was amazing. There was absolutely no wait for a machine (I was the only person there for the first half hour) and there are plenty of machines in the building even if it were busy. Nice views from the ellipticals onto Jervis Street so good people watching. Lots of mats for stretching and ab-​rollers that actually work.
Only downside are the loud hit radio station playing, which I dont think my iPod can overpower – although I will try. Oh and the weightlifters upstairs dropping their barbells on the floor AKA your roof as you workout is rather frightening.
Overall after having a membership with the popular YWCA for years, I mostly appreciate the lack of wait for machines. Also I find the price for this BD location to be fair. It’s very cheap as it is the smallest of their gyms so it comes in less expensive than my $ 25/​month Y membership, which included a health insurance discount. January also has the new years resolution discount so if you are thinking about a gym, this seems like your best bet.