Cancel PureGym Membership UK: Freeze vs Cancel Explained (2026)

PureGym’s cancellation policy is stricter than most gyms. You need to give 30 days notice, and if you’re in a contract, you can’t cancel early without paying off the remaining months.

The frustrating bit? The app makes it look easy to cancel, but unless you understand the notice period, you’ll end up paying for an extra month you won’t use.

I froze my membership twice before finally cancelling. First time was a winter when I couldn’t face the cold gym at 6am. Second time was when I switched to a gym closer to my new job. Here’s what I learned the hard way.

What you need to know:

⏱️ Notice period: 30 days (not instant)
📱 Where to cancel: PureGym app or in-person at your gym
💷 Cancellation fee: None, but you pay for the 30-day notice period
🔒 Contract members: Can’t cancel early without paying it off
📅 Updated: February 2026

Freeze vs Cancel: Which One Do You Actually Want?

This is the first decision you need to make, because they’re completely different.

Freeze (Pause)

What it is:
Your membership stops, payments stop, you can’t use the gym. After the freeze period, it automatically restarts and you’re charged again.

Good for:

• Injury or illness (1-3 months recovery)
• Going travelling
• Temporary money issues
• Switching to home workouts for a bit

Cost:
Free for up to 2 months per year. After that, some PureGyms charge a small admin fee (around £5/month to stay frozen).

The catch:
Your membership automatically unfreezes after the period you set. If you forget about it, you’ll start getting charged again. Set a phone reminder.

Cancel (Full termination)

What it is:
Your membership ends completely. After the 30-day notice period, you’re done. No charges, no access.

Good for:

• Joined a different gym
• Moving cities
• Not going back to gym life
• Can’t afford it anymore

Cost:
Free to cancel, but you must pay for the 30-day notice period even if you don’t use the gym.

The catch:
If you want to rejoin later, you pay the joining fee again (usually £15-20). If you think you might come back in 6 months, freezing might be smarter.

My advice:

Freeze if: You’ll be back within 3-6 months
Cancel if: You’re done with PureGym for good

Don’t freeze for longer than 3 months. At that point, you’re just delaying the inevitable. Cancel and be done with it.

Check If You’re In a Contract First

This is crucial. PureGym offers two types of membership:

Rolling monthly (no contract)

• Pay monthly
• Can cancel anytime with 30 days notice
• Most common type now

Fixed-term contract (6 or 12 months)

• Cheaper monthly rate
• Locked in for the full term
• Can’t cancel without paying off remaining months

How to check which you have:

In the app:

1. Open PureGym app
2. Tap “Membership”
3. Look at “Membership Type”

If it says “Rolling” or “Monthly” – you’re good, cancel anytime.

If it says “6 month contract” or “12 month contract” – you’re locked in.

If you’re in a contract:

You have three options:

1. Wait until it ends – then cancel with 30 days notice before it auto-renews
2. Pay it off early – contact your gym, they’ll tell you the buyout amount
3. Keep paying monthly – until the contract expires

There’s no way around this. PureGym doesn’t do early cancellation without payment. I tried arguing financial hardship once – they don’t budge.

How to Freeze Your PureGym Membership

In the app (easiest):

Step 1: Open the PureGym app and log in.

Step 2: Tap “Membership” at the bottom.

Step 3: Tap “Freeze membership.”

Step 4: Choose your freeze start date (can be immediate or future date).

Step 5: Choose how long (1-12 weeks usually, depends on your gym).

Step 6: Confirm.

You’ll get an on-screen confirmation showing:

• Freeze start date
• Freeze end date
• When payments restart

Screenshot this.

At the gym:

Walk up to the front desk and say “I’d like to freeze my membership for [X weeks/months].”

They’ll do it on their system and email you confirmation.

Important freeze rules:

You can freeze:

• Up to 2 months per year for free
• Longer if you pay the admin fee (ask your specific gym)

You can’t access:

• Any PureGym location during the freeze
• Classes or pool (if your gym has them)
• Member app features

Payment:
Your next direct debit is cancelled automatically. When the freeze ends, payments restart on the date shown in the confirmation.

Unfreezing early:
You can unfreeze before the end date through the app. Just go back to Membership → Manage freeze → Unfreeze now.

How to Cancel PureGym Membership (30-Day Notice)

Here’s the part everyone gets wrong: you must give 30 days notice.

If you cancel on the 15th of January, your membership ends on 14th February. You’ll be charged for both January (already paid) and February (the notice month).

Method 1: Cancel in the app

Step 1: Open PureGym app.

Step 2: Tap “Membership” at the bottom.

Step 3: Scroll down and tap “Cancel membership.”

Step 4: Select your cancellation reason from the list (required).

Step 5: The app shows your cancellation date (30 days from now).

Step 6: Tap “Confirm cancellation.”

You’ll see a confirmation screen showing:

• Cancellation request received
• Last access date
• Final payment date

Screenshot this immediately.

PureGym sends a confirmation email within 24 hours, but the screenshot is your backup proof.

Method 2: Cancel at your gym

Walk to the front desk during staffed hours and say:

“I’d like to cancel my membership please.”

They’ll need:

• Your member number (on your app or keyfob)
• Possibly ID

They’ll process it on the spot and either email you confirmation or print a receipt.

Get written confirmation before you leave. Don’t trust “it’s done in the system” without proof.

Method 3: Email your gym

Find your gym’s email on the PureGym website (each gym has a different address).

Email template:

textSubject: Membership Cancellation - [Your Full Name]

Hi PureGym [Location] Team,

I'd like to cancel my PureGym membership effective immediately (with the required 30-day notice period).

Member details:
- Name: [Your full name]
- Member number: [on your app]
- Email: [your registered email]
- Postcode: [for verification]

Please confirm my cancellation and final payment date.

Thanks,
[Your name]

They usually respond within 2-3 working days.

Keep the email thread. If there’s any dispute about when you cancelled, this is your proof.

The 30-Day Notice Period Explained

This trips people up constantly.

How it works:

PureGym bills you on the same date each month (whenever you joined).

If your billing date is the 10th and you cancel on:

• January 5th – You pay for January (already due) + February (notice period). Last access: February 4th.
• January 15th – You pay for January (already paid) + February (notice period). Last access: February 14th.

You can still use the gym during the 30-day notice period. You’ve paid for it, so make use of it.

The payment:
PureGym will take one more direct debit for the notice month. After that, payments stop.

Early access termination:
Even if you cancel today, you can keep using the gym for 30 days. Some people don’t realise this and waste their notice month.

How to Avoid Paying for an Extra Month

Here’s the smart timing:

Best time to cancel:
Right after your monthly payment goes through.

If you’re billed on the 10th:

• Cancel on the 11th
• Your 30-day notice starts immediately
• You’ve already paid for this month, so you only pay one more

Worst time to cancel:
The day before your billing date.

If you’re billed on the 10th:

• Cancel on the 9th
• You still get charged on the 10th (payment already scheduled)
• Then you pay for 30 more days
• Basically you pay for almost 2 months you probably won’t use

Set a reminder:
If you know you want to cancel soon, set a phone reminder for the day after your next billing date. Cancel then, and you minimize wasted money.

What Happens to Your Joining Fee If You Rejoin

This annoys people: if you cancel, then rejoin months later, you pay the joining fee again.

Current joining fees (January 2025):
Usually £15-20, but varies by location and promotions.

Ways to avoid it:

1. Freeze instead of cancelling – when you unfreeze, no joining fee
2. Wait for no-joining-fee promotions – PureGym runs these every few months (January, September especially)
3. Check if you can transfer gyms – if you’re moving, sometimes they’ll transfer your membership to a new location without cancelling

If you think there’s a chance you’ll be back within 6 months, seriously consider freezing instead. The joining fee plus first month adds up.

Can You Get a Refund?

Short answer: No.

If you cancel mid-month:
You don’t get a refund for the remaining days. Your membership just won’t renew next billing cycle.

If you cancel but forget about the 30-day notice:
You pay for that month. No refunds.

Exception:
If PureGym makes an error (like continuing to charge you after your cancellation date), you can dispute it. Contact the gym immediately with your cancellation confirmation proof.

I’ve seen this happen when people cancel through the app but the app glitches. The screenshot confirmation is crucial for getting your money back in these cases.

Verify Your Cancellation Went Through

Don’t just trust the app confirmation. Actually verify:

Day 1-2 after cancelling:

• Check your email for confirmation from PureGym
• Check spam folder if nothing arrives

Day 3-7:

• Log into the app
• Go to Membership section
• Should show “Membership ending on [date]”

Your final billing date:

• Check your bank statement
• One final payment should go through
• Nothing after that

30 days after cancellation:

• Try to enter your gym with your keyfob or app
• It should be declined (meaning cancellation worked)

Month after final billing:

• Check bank statement
• Should be zero charges from PureGym
• If you’re charged, contact them immediately

What If You Keep Getting Charged After Cancelling

This happens occasionally. Here’s what to do:

Immediately:

1. Check your email for cancellation confirmation
2. Check the app to see if cancellation shows
3. Contact your gym directly (email or in-person)
4. Provide your cancellation screenshot/email
5. Request immediate refund

If gym doesn’t respond in 5 days:

1. Contact PureGym head office: memberservices@puregym.com
2. Attach all proof
3. State clearly: “I cancelled on [date], was charged on [date], require refund”

If still no resolution:

1. Contact your bank
2. File a dispute for “cancelled subscription still charging”
3. Provide your cancellation evidence
4. Most banks refund within 7-10 working days

Also:
Cancel the direct debit at your bank so no further charges can be taken while you sort it out.

Can You Use Other PureGym Locations During Notice Period?

Yes, if you have multi-gym access.

PureGym offers:

• Single gym membership (cheaper, only your home gym)
• Multi-gym membership (£5-10 more, any UK PureGym)

If you have multi-gym, you can still use any location during your 30-day notice period.

If you have single gym only, you’re restricted to your home gym until cancellation completes.

This doesn’t change when you cancel – just when your membership type is.

Freezing Tips From Experience

Since I froze twice before cancelling, here’s what I learned:

Set your unfreeze reminder for 3 days before:
The app sends a reminder email, but I never saw it (spam folder). Set your own phone reminder for 3 days before your unfreeze date. That gives you time to extend the freeze or cancel properly if you’re not going back.

Don’t freeze more than twice a year:
If you’re freezing every few months, you don’t actually want a gym membership. Cancel and save the money. I wasted 6 months doing freeze-unfreeze-freeze before I admitted I just didn’t want to go anymore.

Freeze starts immediately by default:
Unless you select a future date, your freeze begins the same day. If you’ve just paid for the month, wait a week or two before freezing so you get more value.

You can’t freeze during a freeze:
Sounds obvious, but you can’t extend a freeze while it’s active. You have to unfreeze, then immediately refreeze with a new end date. Bit annoying but that’s how their system works.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to give a reason for cancelling?

The app makes you select one from a dropdown, but at the gym desk, they usually don’t ask. Just say you want to cancel and that’s enough.

Can I cancel someone else’s membership for them?

No. The member has to cancel themselves (in app or in person). Even if you’re paying for it, they’re the named member.

What happens to my guest passes?

They expire when your membership ends. If you have unused guest passes during your notice period, use them. They won’t carry over or get refunded.

Can I transfer my membership to someone else?

No. PureGym doesn’t allow membership transfers. They’d have to sign up fresh.

Will cancelling affect my credit score?

No. PureGym memberships aren’t credit agreements (unless you’re on a payment plan for a personal trainer or something separate). Cancelling a standard membership doesn’t touch your credit file.

Can I cancel and rejoin immediately to get a promo rate?

Technically possible, but PureGym’s system usually recognizes you as a previous member, so you won’t get “new member” offers. Plus you lose your current rate if it’s an old cheaper one.

What if my gym closes down?

You can transfer to another PureGym at no cost, or cancel without the 30-day notice period. Contact member services – they handle this case by case.

Quick Summary

To cancel PureGym:

1. App: Membership → Cancel membership → Confirm
2. Or: Visit gym front desk and request cancellation
3. Remember: 30 days notice required (you pay for one more month)
4. Screenshot your confirmation

To freeze instead:

1. App: Membership → Freeze membership → Choose duration
2. Free for up to 2 months per year
3. Automatically unfreezes – set your own reminder

Smart timing:

• Cancel right after your monthly payment (minimize waste)
• Freeze if you’ll be back within 6 months (avoid joining fee)
• Contract members: wait until contract ends or pay buyout

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Last Updated: February 2026
Applies to: All UK PureGym locations (policies are standardized)

Found a change in PureGym’s cancellation process? Let us know so we can update this guide.