Places Gym acquires 3 new facilities

Leisure Operators Places for People Leisure have exchanged contracts to acquire three Simply Gyms in Chesterfield, Hinckley and Telford to run under its Places Gym brand.

Places for People Leisure are a social enterprise that is passionate about improving opportunities for communities to be physically active. They are one of the largest leisure operators in the UK managing a portfolio of over 100 leisure facilities for local authorities across the country.

 

The company entered the low-cost gym sector in May 2015, launching its community gym brand ‘Places Gym’ to expand its reach and further its social purpose of creating ‘active places and healthy people’. This exciting new acquisition will now take the social enterprise to six Places Gyms within its leisure portfolio, with other Places Gyms located in Preston, Sheffield and Corby.

Sandra Dodd, Chief Executive of Places for People Leisure said, “Our Places Gyms are designed to offer a more convenient and inviting place for people of all abilities to come and enjoy a more active lifestyle. As part of the acquisition significant investments are planned within the three clubs for next year which we hope will ensure that we create vibrant, attractive and imaginative places that can’t help but encourage people to be more active. Over the coming weeks we will be working closely with Simply Gym to ensure a smooth handover and are looking forward to welcoming the Simply staff into the Places for People Family.”

Handover of the three Simply sites is due to take place on 15th December this year with staff transferred under TUPE and all memberships carrying on as usual. 

Andy Hastings, Director at Simply Gym said, “We are very pleased to have concluded this sale but will be sorry to lose 3 gyms which have run very successfully for us. We are grateful to the staff and members who have contributed to this success, we know the gyms will go from strength to strength under Places for People and their plans for investment and development will be welcomed by everyone involved.”