Updated: Puregym still ‘committed to a second site in the Chester area’

Puregym, the UK’s largest gym chain has said it is still “committed to a second site in the Chester area” after Deeside.com reported earlier it had pulled out of a proposed site in Broughton.   ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The gym operator submitted proposals to Flintshire council in January for a new 1,069sqm facility at the shopping park in Broughton. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The planning application for a new gym in the unit formerly occupied by Nike store was approved shortly before the UK went into lockdown.  ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The unit has now been occupied by Aldo, the shoe retailer which fell into administration in June. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

It’s understood they have signed a short term lease and have opened a ‘pop up’ shop which is selling discounted stock. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

That move raised questions around Puregym’s commitment to developing a new gym at Broughton.  ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Deeside.com contacted the gym operator at the end of July to seek clarity on the situation however they didn’t respond.   ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

A Puregym representative has now told Deeside.com that gym chain is “committed to a second site in the Chester area“ but the company needs to “understand what the new post COVID world looks like before legally committing.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The representative added Purgym has not “pulled out of that site” [Broughton] but “clearly our new opening schedule has been impacted by Covid-19.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

It’s understood prior to submitting the application for Broughton Retail Park the company looked at locations in Saltney, Buckley and Queensferry but they were not deemed suitable. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Puregym had been critical of the Welsh Government stance on the reopening of gyms and called on the First Minister Mark Drakeford to “re-examine the current, factual evidence, engage with us and our industry bodies, and allow the Welsh people back into gyms as soon as possible.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Swimming pools, indoor fitness studios, gyms and leisure centres will be able to re-open from Monday in Wales, First Minister Mark Drakeford confirmed today. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

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