Budget gym eyes a million members

THE Gym Group aims to have recruited more than a million members by 2025 as part of ambitious expansion plans.

The low-cost fitness brand also wants to have more than 300 sites within the next three years.

Its latest figures show membership hit 790,000 at the end of June, up 10 per cent from 718,000 at the start of the year.

Chief executive Richard Darwin said the listed firm was ‘very well positioned’ to deal with the ‘massive economic shock’ hitting consumers. He said: ‘Our average membership is just under £21 a month. We’re about £2.50 to £3 cheaper than our low-cost competitors.’

Darwin said the firm was gaining from a huge availability of sites as other firms closed, adding: ‘This is about taking advantage of a once-in-ageneration opportunity.’

The firm’s main aim is to expand away from cities into residential areas – 60 per cent of its openings are in retail parks.