Mystery of F45 studio lockout

Sudden shutdown stuns

HUNDREDS of members from a popular Gold Coast gym are still without answers on why it was abruptly shut and the gates have been padlocked.

F45 Helensvale, located in Oxenford, has been closed since Saturday morning and it remains unclear when or if it will reopen.

Landlord Bob Perrett padlocked the gates of the property, preventing gym owner Michael Hughes and members from accessing it.

Mr Hughes’ gym business was formally named The FourFive and trades through a company named Hughzibear. It is solely directed and owned by Michael Hughes.

A former gym member, who left a year ago after she had a child, told the Bulletin was disappointed to see it closed.

“F45 Helensvale helped me through the worst time in my life,” she said.

“I was a foundation member there and if it wasn’t for them and that place, I would have no idea where my mental state would be at it.

“It sucks to see it closed like that.”

Dozens of people have speculated Mr Hughes may have been behind in rent, forcing the landlord to padlock it.

Mr Perrett declined to comment, telling the Bulletin: “That’s a confidential matter between myself and the tenant. I wouldn’t disclose what’s wrong.”

It understood at one stage the training centre had more than 500 members each paying a minimum of $55 a week.

The property was last advertised for rent in 2016 for $62,500 a month.

A spokesman for the F45 franchise didn’t specify what had prompted the gym to close.

“We are working with the owners of F45 Helensvale and the landlord on a solution,” the spokesman said.

“Helensvale F45 members are our utmost priority and we aim to have them back in studio and training as soon as possible.”