Worthing gym on the brink of closure now set to reopen

A Worthing gym that was on the brink of closure is now set to reopen after a private investor stepped in.
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The Gym Hub in the Guildbourne Centre was sold as a going concern following the collapse of its parent company, Adur Community Leisure Ltd (ACL), in July.

Now, manager John Stoddart confirmed it would reopen as FitLab on Monday, August 10, at 5pm.

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He said: “We are offering people the opportunity to come back to the place they love and the future will be really bright for this site.

The Gym Hub in Worthing is reopening as FitLabThe Gym Hub in Worthing is reopening as FitLab
The Gym Hub in Worthing is reopening as FitLab

“It was good before, but it will be even better; we will grow and make positive changes.”

New equipment will be bought for the gym and the space will be expanded to accomodate cardio, spin and boxing classes as well as group exercises.

In the future, the owners hoped to expand upward into the first floor of the Guildbourne Centre to create an elite fitness suite, including altitude chambers and housing personal PT sessions, John said.

The membership fee of £20 a month will remain the same.

The Gym Hub in Worthing is reopening as FitLabThe Gym Hub in Worthing is reopening as FitLab
The Gym Hub in Worthing is reopening as FitLab
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John, who was the Gym Hub’s manager when they closed for the lockdown, has been taken on by the new owners along with some other ACL colleagues to set up and rebrand the gym after the reopening.

FitLab currently has premises in High Street, Worthing. Its website describes FitLab as a ‘science-backed, technology-tracked, coach-inspired group workout designed to produce results from the inside out’ with a team comprising of ‘a select group of elite trainers; including Sussex’s most respected boxing coaches, ex-champion boxers and current professional fighters’.

The previous team, which included five full-time employees and 12 personal trainers, will be given the opportunity to meet the new owners and interview for positions, John said.

The Gym Hub had more than 2,000 members before it closed for lockdown, and John said he would be emailing every former member with a special promotion to entice them back.

The Gym Hub in Worthing is reopening as FitLabThe Gym Hub in Worthing is reopening as FitLab
The Gym Hub in Worthing is reopening as FitLab
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John said: “The fact our parent company went bankrupt was a real shame, and people in the community were upset about that.

“The opportunity was there, and someone needed to come in and take it on. That is what has happened.”