Room for more gyms in Cheltenham, fitness trainer believes

FITNESS fanatics looking for a place to pump iron and shed the pounds have two new gyms to choose from in Cheltenham.

There are already at least nine gyms in the town, alongside the borough council run leisure centre.

But bosses at one of the latest arrivals, The Gym in High Street, believe there is still room for more fitness centres across the town.

Dan Fivey has been running a personal training service for the last two years.

The 36-year-old, who moved to Cheltenham six years ago when he became manager of Fitness First, is now expanding his centre to provide gym facilities for 150 members.

He currently offers one- to-one tuition, but the new centre will let members come and go without seeing a personal trainer.

"We are making the place three times the size," added Dan, who hopes to open the gym by the end of the month.

"People can come here no matter what their age or ability.

"We already have people signing up, but we want to limit it to 150 members so we can really get to know the people who join up.

"Outside of work and home, this is the place where they spend most of their time."

Dan believes the success of the Olympics has been responsible for the rise in people wanting to keep fit.

And he believes the key is helping give people a sense of achievement.

"Not only the Olympics themselves, but the fact that many of the medallists were from the area has helped as well," he said.

"If you are helping people to achieve their goal, then they are more likely to come back.

"When people are not being given direction, it can be much harder to get motivated."

Dan has been running for most of his life.

"I started when I was just three," he said. "Whenever my dad would come back from a long run, I would go and join him for the final part.

"I run with people who do marathons.

"I've done two marathons with people in the last two weekends and must have done five this year alone.

"Anyone who knows me would probably sum me up in three words: passionate, dedicated and focused.

"This is the concept I want to have instilled through the gym."

Also opening next month is Trimnasium Fitness Centre in Queens Road, which is due to start letting members in on November 1.

The gym's website states that it will have a full fitness gym with cross fit and spinning classes and personal trainers.

THE average prices for a single person (prices may differ depending on times and deals) for gyms in Cheltenham include:

Reach Fitness, Keynsham Road – £35 per month

Fitness First, The Brewery – £29.95 per month

CLC Sports, Malvern Road – £43 per month

Sports Connection, Leckhampton Road – £19.99 per month

Ladyzone (women’s only gym), Gloucester Road – £23 per month

YMCA, Vittoria Way – £50 per year

Curves (women’s only gym), High Street – £29 per month

Simply Gym, Wymans Lane – £14.99 per month

LA Fitness, Tewkesbury Road – £39 per month

The Gym, High Street – £15 per month