Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answer to common questions about Oriam.

ASK US ANYTHING! 

Check out our FAQs for quick answers to commonly asked questions. If you can't find the information you are looking for here, then please head to the contact page or give us a call. 

OPEN HOURS AND ACCESS

WHEN IS ORIAM OPEN?

Oriam is open 7 days a week and most of our facilities are accessible year-round. Our current opening hours are:

  • Monday - Friday | 06:30 - 22:00
  • Saturday | 08:00 - 20:00
  • Sunday | 08:00 - 22:00

Oriam does close for a few days each year for festive holidays and staff training. Planned closure dates for 2023 - 2024 are:

  • 11th August 2023 | Staff Training Day
  • 25th-26th December 2023 | Festive Break
  • 1st - 2nd January 2024 | New Year Break

CAN I ACCESS ORIAM FACILITIES AND SERVICES?

Short answer is Yes!
You are more than welcome to visit us and enjoy the wide range of facilities and services we have to offer. You don't need to be an elite athlete or part of Heriot-Watt University to join our community. Oriam was built to encourage and inspire fitness and sports participation at all levels.  

I'M NOT HERIOT-WATT STAFF OR STUDENT, CAN I STILL JOIN AS A MEMBER?

Absolutely, yes you can! Our memberships are open to our whole community. We have an excellent range of membership options for ages 10 yrs and up. You can find our full membership offering here and get started today!

DO I NEED TO BE A MEMBER TO USE THE GYM OR BOOK ACTIVITIES AT ORIAM?

No, you do not have to be a member to access our facilities. You can book sports and fitness activities on a pay as you play basis on our Oriam App, Website or at our Reception Desk. Our members do enjoy some great benefits and discounts so if you would like to visit us on a regular basis, a membership might be of interest to you. 

CAN I USE THE CHANGING ROOMS OR SHOWERS WHEN I VISIT?

Yes, absolutely. We have two sets of changing rooms conveniently located opposite Sports Hall One and our Members Fitness Suite. Each changing room includes day lockers, shower facilities, bench seating with plenty of space to get changed, a large vanity desk with mirror and hair dryers. Most of the changing spaces are an open layout however there are private cubicles too. The toilets are located next to the changing rooms. We also have accessible shower and changing facilities and baby changing areas. 

WHAT SHOULD I BRING WITH ME WHEN I VISIT?

There may be specific requirements for your chosen activity but here are a few of our recommended essentials:

  • Comfortable sports clothing
  • Appropriate Footwear - If in doubt a comfortable pair of trainers are best, preferably non-marking or white soled. Please check footwear policies for specific sports courts/pitches. 
  • Refillable water bottle - we have water stations throughout the building
  • A padlock for your locker - Please note lockers are for day-use only, no overnight or long-term storage.
  • A small gym/shower towel

MEMBERSHIPS

I'M NOT A CURRENT MEMBER, HOW DO I JOIN-UP?

Try our Membership Page first. You can follow the Join Now instructions to join online. Alternatively you can join on our Oriam App or email membership@oriam.hw.ac.uk to book a tour. Our Reception team are always happy to help with any membership enquiries when you visit. 

WHERE CAN I FIND OUT MORE ABOUT MEMBERSHIPS?

Try our Membership Page here. If you can't find your answers there, please give us a call on 0131 451 8400 or email membership@oriam.hw.ac.uk. 

HOW OLD DO YOU HAVE TO BE, TO HAVE A MEMBERSHIP?

We offer Junior Memberships from ages 10 years and up with any adult membership. Juniors under the age of 16 must be attached to an adult member account and accompanied by an adult when they visit the facilities. You can purchase any adult membership independently from age 16 years and over. 

GYM & FITNESS

HOW MANY GYMS DOES ORIAM HAVE?

Oriam currently has a total of 3 gym spaces, 2 of these are open to members and guest-pass holders. 

  1. Oriam Fitness Suite - This is the main gym space for our Members and Guest-pass holders. 
  2. Strength & Condition Suite - This is a shared space for our Members and some of our performance teams. It is split into 3 sections, section 1 & 2 are always open to Members & Guests. 
  3. Performance Gym - This space is reserved for performance athletes and teams only so they can train to their best without interruption. 

HOW DO I ACCESS THE GYM?

To access the Fitness Suite or Strength & Conditioning Suite you will need a Members Pass, HWU Student ID or a Guest Pass (Available at Reception)
There is no public access to the Performance Gym. 

HOW DO I BOOK AN INDUCTION?

You can complete the Induction form on our Gym and Fitness page or you can chat to one of our fitness team the next time you visit the gym. 

HOW DO I BOOK PERSONAL TRAINING?

You can complete the Personal Training Enqury form on our Gym & Fitness page or you can chat to one of our fitness team the next time you visit the gym. 

WHAT TYPE OF EQUIPMENT IS AVAILABLE IN THE GYM?

Our Fitness Suite is fully equipped with industry-leading Technogym equipment. Included are a wide range of cardio and resistance weight machines along with four lifting platforms and open workout space with free-weights, boxes, mats and more. 

Our Strength and Conditioning Gym is more weights focussed. This includes 8 lifting platforms, a push-track and various items for free-weight training. 

CAN I COACH OR TRAIN OTHERS IN YOUR GYM?

Only qualified Personal Trainers, who have registered with Oriam are able to provide fitness coaching or training in our Fitness Suite or Strength & Conditioning Suite. If you are a qualified Personal Trainer looking to coach at Oriam, please contact healthandfitness@oriam.hw.ac.uk.

GROUP EXERCISE CLASSES

WHERE CAN I FIND THE GROUP EXERCISE TIMETABLE?

You can find our current Group Exercise timetable and class descriptions on our Gym & Fitness page. You can also view available classes for the next 14 days on our App or Online here. 

WHERE CAN I FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE CLASSES YOU OFFER?

You can find our current Group Exercise Timetable and full Class Descriptions on our Gym & Fitness page. You can also ask any of our Fitness team if you have any questions, they are happy to make recommendations based on your interests and abilities.

DO I NEED TO BE A MEMBER TO JOIN A CLASS?

No you don't have to be a member to join one of our classes. You can book and pay per class on our Oriam App or online. If you decide you like our classes and want to join us regularly a membership will often work out more effective in the long-run. 

HOW DO I BOOK A SPACE FOR A CLASS?

You can book your classes upto 14 days in advance on our Oriam App, Online or at our Reception Desk. 

THE CLASS I WANT IS FULL, HOW DOES YOUR WAITING LIST WORK?

If one of our classes does fill-up, we do operate a waiting list. If a space becomes available, everyone who is on the waiting list should receive an email to inform them of the space availability. It is then first come, first serve to book that space. Our system does not allow us to prioritise booking access, based on when you joined the waiting list. 

WHAT IS YOUR CLASS CANCELLATION POLICY?

Our classes are popular and can fill-up fast. If you can't make it to a class, we ask you to cancel your booking a minimum of 1 hour prior to the class start-time. You can easily cancel your booking on our Oriam App or just give us a call at Reception on 0131 451 8400. Attendance is recorded in each class. We run a 3-strike policy for repeat late cancellations or no-shows. You can find full details in our Terms and Conditions.  

I'M A QUALIFIED CLASS INSTRUCTOR, CAN I TEACH CLASSES AT ORIAM?

We always love to hear from local class instructors. If you are a qualified class instructor looking to teach at Oriam please contact our Fitness & Group Exercise Manager Mandy at healthandfitness@oriam.hw.ac.uk

CATERING

WHAT ARE THE ORIAM CAFE OPENING HOURS?

Here are our current Café opening hours:

  • Monday - Friday: 08:30 - 15:30
  • Saturday - Sunday: 08:30 - 15:30

WHAT IS ON THE MENU AT THE ORIAM CAFE?

Oriam Cafe offers a range of hot and cold drinks and snacks to grab and go. You can view a pdf copy of our menu here: 
Sandwiches, toasties and paninis are all pre-made for easy grab and go service. Gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options available. Please talk to our staff if you have any allergies or dietary requirements.

IS THERE SOMEWHERE I CAN EAT MY OWN FOOD WHEN I VISIT?

The seating at our Reception area next to the Café is reserved for Café customers only however, if you have brought your own food, you are welcome to head along to the Lounge, located above our Fitness Suite accessible by stairs or lift.  

DO YOU PROVIDE CATERING FOR EVENTS HELD AT ORIAM?

Catering arrangements should be made at the point of booking for an event, please speak to our bookings team about catering options when you book your event.