Gym Group loses one in five of its members in lockdown

ONE of Britain’s biggest gym chains lost around one in five of its members during lockdown, even though it froze their payments.

The Gym Group said that 178,000 people had cancelled their memberships with one of its 179 gyms, which are mainly across England.

The announcement came as the business prepares to open its doors for the first time in four months after the UK Government told gyms in England they would be allowed to reopen.

Before lockdown, on March 18, the company had 870,000 members. This had dropped to 692,000 on Thursday, at an average age of 32.

Direct debit repayments will now restart, but members can request to have their membership frozen for longer.

“We are in the process of unfurloughing our colleagues, who will be ready to open the doors of our gyms in England on July 25 and in the other home nations once restrictions are lifted,” chief executive Richard Darwin said yesterday.

“We are encouraged by the response of our members, the vast majority of whom are keen to get back to the gym to begin working out again.

“We look forward to welcoming them back and being able to continue providing affordable fitness for all.”

According to its own research, 92% of members are keen to get back to exercising at one of the The Gym Group’s 160 sites in England, 13 in Scotland and three in Wales which are all set to reopen from July 25.

Two in Leicester and one that is being refurbished on London’s Oxford Street will remain shut for now.

The normally round-the-clock gyms will initially open from 6am to 10pm on weekdays and from 8am to 8pm on weekends.

Staff will get their temperature checked at the start of their shifts, and the number of the people in each gym will be restricted to one per 100 square feet.

The company will also launch an app where customers can monitor how busy the gym is, and check historical trends to spot patterns of when it might be safe to go.

“Opening safely is our primary concern and we have comprehensive plans in place for both our colleagues and members as we re-open our gyms,” Mr Darwin said.