New 24hr gym soon to open its doors

A new 24-hour gym is opening at a former bed showroom along a busy gateway in to Wolverhampton within months, it was revealed today, creating dozens of new jobs in the city.

No frills chain Pure Gym is launching its second gym in the city, in Birmingham Road, Blakenhall, as the trend for exercising around the clock booms.

The other branch opened in 2009 at Bentley Bridge retail park in Wednesfield. It was the first Pure Gym to open in the Midlands.

The new gym will open on May 24 at the former Vono bed showroom, which has been empty for the past seven years.

Hayley Smith, Pure Gym spokeswoman, said it was not yet known how many posts will be created by the move.

According to the Pure Gym website, the centre will feature more than 220 pieces of equipment and up to 40 fitness classes will be held there each week.

The car park at the former bed showroom has space for 87 vehicles.

Blakenhall Councillor Robert Jones today welcomed the new gym opening.

"We are pleased the building is being used again," he said. "There had been a planning application for a shoe superstore but it fell through.

"I would have been concerned if it had been another supermarket. It will bring new jobs to the area as well."

There are currently four Pure Gyms across the region, including Smethwick, Birmingham city centre, Coventry and the one in Wednesfield.

Meanwhile a £1 million gym is opening at Astle Retail Park, in West Bromwich, in May, creating 30 new jobs.

Another is also opening on the top floor of Walsall's Poundland store in Park Street in June, creating around 30 new jobs.

The building was previously occupied by Woolworths and TJ Hughes.

Proposals were originally put forward for the former Vono bed showroom to be taken on by a national shoe retailer but plans fell through.

Pure Gym in Wednesfield opened in 2009, creating 12 jobs. The gym was built on the site of the former Mecca bingo hall.

Pure Gym is also looking at other potential new sites and plans to increase the number of gyms to 45 by the end of the year.

The firm, based in Ripon, North Yorkshire, was founded in September 2008. It is backed by New Look founder Tom Singh, and raised £15 m to support its expansion for 14 new gyms to open in the next few months.

Its principle is being an affordable facility without swimming pools and saunas.