PureGym

PureGym
Company typePrivate company
IndustryHealth clubs
Founded2009
FounderPeter Roberts
HeadquartersLeeds, UK
Number of locations
Over 600[1] gyms (2024)
Area served
United Kingdom, Switzerland, United States, Denmark, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates
Key people
Humphrey Cobbold (CEO)
OwnerLeonard Green & Partners
Websitehttps://www.puregym.com
PureGym, New Barnet
A PureGym club in Leeds

PureGym Limited is a British chain of no-frills health clubs, headquartered in Leeds. It is Britain's largest gym chain by membership, with over 1,900,000 members registered to their gyms.[2][3][4][5][6] PureGym also operate gyms in 8 more countries and have over 500 locations worldwide; the newest territory, the UAE, opened in 2022.

In May 2015, PureGym acquired all gyms from rival UK fitness chain LA Fitness, bringing the total number of gyms across the UK to 141. In 2019 an acquisition of Danish chain Fitness World added another approximately 200 centers to the portfolio.[7] As of December 2024, PureGym has 362 gyms in the UK, and 161 in Denmark.[8] Approximately 66% of PureGym's revenue comes from its UK operations.[9]

Facilities

Most locations are open 24 hours a day[10] and offer cardio equipment, fixed and free weights, and exercise classes. There are over 200 pieces of training equipment in most gyms. There are no swimming pools or saunas, which are found in more expensive gyms.

For safety, all PureGyms are monitored by real-time CCTV linked directly to security staff and emergency services. They also have AEDs and first aid kits on site. Most gyms also run weekly fire drills during off-peak hours.[11]

Ownership and management

PureGym was privately owned by CCMP Capital and other investors.[12] In 2014, rival The Gym Group attempted to take over PureGym, but abandoned the takeover after it was referred to the Competition and Markets Authority.[13]

In May 2015, PureGym Ltd bought their UK rival LA Fitness for around £60 million to £80 million.[14][15]

Humphrey Cobbold took over from Peter Roberts as the CEO. Roberts has, in turn, become the CFO, with Adam Bellamy continuing as the non-executive director.

In November 2017 it was bought by Los Angeles–based Leonard Green & Partners for £600 million.[16]

In December 2019 PureGym agreed to buy Danish Fitness World, which also operated in Switzerland and Poland, for £350 million.[17]

In February 2021 Humphrey Cobbold told the BBC that "We are burning about £500,000 a day and that's the average over eight months of closure".

In 2019, PureGym acquired the Swiss basefit.ch. By the end of 2021, all of their facilities will have been renamed and redesigned[18]

It has a 2-star accreditation from Best Companies and a BCI score of 696.6.[19]

PureGym opened in Dubai in 2022. PureGym UAE is headed up by CEO Susan Turner, with operations being handled by John Foy.

References

  1. ^ "Interim Financial Report for the nine months ended 30 September 2024" (PDF). PureGym.
  2. ^ "Interim Financial Report for the nine months ended 30 September 2024" (PDF). PureGym.
  3. ^ Kemp, Kenny (25 April 2019). "PureGym breaks through the million member barrier". Insider.co.uk. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  4. ^ "Overview". PureGym. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  5. ^ Culot, Caroline (17 October 2019). "Norwich gym to close after being taken over by rival firm". Eastern Daily Press. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  6. ^ Reporter, LLB (21 February 2018). "Pure Gym reaches 1 million members and announces opening of 200th gym in the UK". London Loves Business. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  7. ^ "PureGym to acquire European operator Fitness World". Health Club Management. 12 December 2019.
  8. ^ Locations, PureGym
  9. ^ "Interim Financial Report for the nine months ended 30 September 2024" (PDF). PureGym. p. 21.
  10. ^ "Hard at it in the all-night gym | Life and style". The Guardian. 29 August 2016. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
  11. ^ "Safety and Security".
  12. ^ "Private equity takeover lifts Pure Gym". 26 May 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
  13. ^ "The Gym Group keen to cut pounds in growth market". 13 August 2014. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
  14. ^ "Pure Gym to buy rival LA Fitness". BBC News. 29 May 2015.
  15. ^ Hickey, Shane (29 May 2015). "Pure Gym buys LA Fitness". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  16. ^ Bury, Rhiannon (3 November 2017). "US private equity firm with Topshop stake snaps up Pure Gym". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 15 January 2018.[1]
  17. ^ Booth, James (12 December 2019). "Puregym expands in Europe with £350m acquisition of Fitness World". CityAM. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  18. ^ "Basefit.ch wird bis Ende 2021 in PureGym umbenannt". basefit.ch (in German). 20 July 2021. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  19. ^ "Pure Gym: BCI". Best Companies.
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