Inside The Spencer Hotel’s Newly Refurbished Energize Fitness & Leisure Gym

A good hotel gym can be hard to come by. More often than not, you get a dim room, a couple of machines and the vague intention of using it before deciding against it. The Spencer Hotel’s Energize Fitness & Leisure space is not that.

Located on the banks of the River Liffey, The Spencer Hotel is well placed for both work and city breaks, with the Convention Centre Dublin, 3Arena and Bord Gáis Energy Theatre all nearby. That central location makes its newly refurbished leisure facilities feel all the more impressive, giving guests a polished wellness space right in the middle of the city. Following a major refurbishment, Energize Fitness & Leisure has a sharper, more polished feel, and the gym in particular makes an immediate impression. It is sleek, modern and strikingly designed, with an all-black interior that gives it more of a premium studio feel than a standard hotel set-up.

What makes it all the more appealing is that it is not just about looks. Energize Fitness & Leisure is fitted with brand-new Technogym equipment, with all the machines you could need for a proper cardio, strength or stretch session. It feels genuinely equipped for a full workout rather than a token hotel gym visit before breakfast, and that is what gives the space real substance as well as style. 

The space is also a very easy place to train in, with free fitness classes available to both members and hotel guests, making it simple to keep active while away. The room is well air conditioned, which makes a bigger difference than people often realise, and when we were there, staff were nearby maintaining equipment and on hand to help with questions. That kind of presence gives the whole area a sense of care and attention, which only adds to the experience.

The changing rooms continue that same feeling. They are spacious, well laid out and practical in all the right ways, with lockers operated by wristband, proper showers, good mirrors, dryers and straighteners, so it is easy to get ready afterwards without feeling like you are navigating a cramped hotel leisure room. It all feels clean and refreshingly user-friendly.

Then, just beside the gym, you have the part that really seals it - the pool and thermal facilities. The Spencer’s 18-metre heated indoor pool is a real perk, with enough space for proper lengths as well as a slower wind-down swim after a busy day. From there, the thermal facilities bring in the more indulgent side of the experience. The hot tub is perfect for easing off after training, while the sauna and steam room add that extra sense of release, helping you fully switch gears before heading back upstairs. Together, they give the leisure area a more complete, polished feel and make it somewhere you will actually want to spend time. 

That is really the strength of The Spencer Hotel’s Energize Fitness & Leisure offering overall. It manages to feel both functional and enjoyable. You can go for a serious workout, swim a few lengths, or simply use the sauna and steam room to unwind after a day in the city. In a central Dublin hotel, that is not something to take for granted.

The Spencer Hotel has plenty going for it as a place to stay, but the Energize Fitness & Leisure facilities deserve attention in their own right. They are smart, well finished and genuinely enjoyable to use, which is probably the highest compliment you can give any hotel gym!