Fitness suite fits in former office block

After a hard day at work, many of us can’t wait to get away from the office. No matter what you do, relaxation and leisure time is precious. Many of us have a social circle and will meet friends on our days off, while others look after their bodies by going for a swim or to the gym to burn off some calories. But how many people would imagine going back to their workplace to keep fit?

Today there’s not a computer, typewriter or ring binder in sight inside the former Charter House office block.

Starting in February 2013, the former landmark, originally built for Charter Consolidated, has been transformed into the long-awaited Panorama with luxury apartments on all wings and the ground floor retained for modern office space – and a gym.

Back in the mid 1970s, to go to a gym was a specialist thing.

When Charter House opened in 1975 many who worked there would never visit a gym so to see one now created in the building will be a novelty to them. Floors throughout the building have been divided into individual apartments, and the Anytime Fitness 24-hour Gym, which is open to the public, is the only part of the building that is still open plan.

The gym is kitted out with the latest equipment in modern and comfortable surroundings.

So those who worked for Charter Consolidated and, more latterly, Sealink, Stena, Alliance and Leicester and other post-Charter tenants, can now go back to their former workplace to keep fit.

Did you work for Charter Consolidated? What do you make of the changes to the building? Please get in touch.

Do you have any photographs or slides that you would be willing to lend to me, to enable them to be featured in the Kentish Express?

If so, please write to me: Steve Salter, Kentish Express Remember When, 34-36 North Street, Ashford TN24 8JR, email me at rememberwhen_ kmash@hotmail.co.uk or follow me on Twitter @SteveKMAshford.

You can also leave a phone message for me with brief details by calling 01233 623232.

An interior view of The Park Street frontage of The Panorama, showing the Anytime Fitness 24-hour gym occupying the former ground floor office space

The exterior of the front of The Panorama today, showing the Anytime Fitness 24-hour gym on the ground floor. The other side of the ground floor is being transformed for Regus office space

One of the open-plan offices in Charter House in 1975 when it was occupied by Charter Consolidated. Notice the flared trousers of the male members of staff, the big hair and hazards that a health and safety officer would have kittens over today