Kate H
I attended Boutique Boxing for nearly a year and raised serious concerns about the owner’s conduct and professionalism. After sustaining a neck injury under his supervision, I was left alone while he went to get breakfast. Despite reporting symptoms like loss of feeling and grip strength, his response focused on terms and conditions instead of offering genuine support. After wasting my time for over a week in deflective behaviours, he admitted that he lacked proper public liability and business insurance, stating, “I took a risk.” While he has boxing insurance, I sincerely hope it adequately covers the children and adolescents who make up most of his clients. The owner’s approach to injury management, ethical responsibilities, and customer complaints was dismissive, defensive, and self-serving. When I raised concerns, I experienced deflection, gaslighting, and even unfounded legal threats that seemed aimed at intimidating, bullying, and silencing me. Classes were frequently cancelled with little notice, started late, and often favoured specific clients rather than providing a structured experience for all. Refunds were never issued for cancelled classes, showing disregard for clients’ time and money. This gym lacks professionalism and accountability, and the owner's behaviour creates an unsafe environment. If you choose to attend, I strongly recommend checking everything thoroughly, keeping clear records, and advocating for your rights. My feedback aimed to improve safety standards, but it was ignored, the owner’s choice to ‘take a risk’ leaves me financially burdened and I have been treated incredibly poorly despite having been supportive and overly flexible with the owner and ‘head coach’. A genuine apology and acknowledgment of the poor treatment I experienced would have cost nothing and could have restored mutual respect. Unfortunately, respect was obviously not reciprocated. I also question whether a man would have been treated in this manner. Ultimately, I have been really put off engaging in this sport if this the expected treatment from a supposed professional. No one should leave a boxing gym feeling like this, it reflects badly on the sport.
