UPDATE: Anytime Fitness gain access to gym

THE directors of a 24 hour gym in Penarth which abruptly closed with the landlord saying the lease was forfeit have now regained access to the site.

Anytime Fitness Penarth gave an update on Instagram at the weekend saying the gym was back open from 8am to 5pm Saturday and will be open 8am to 4pm, today, however no classes are scheduled to be held.

The directors say the gym is not yet fully operational until damage has been assessed.

On their Instagram page, the Penarth gym said: "We WILL be open tomorrow (Saturday, October 28) between 8am and 5pm and Sunday 8am - 4pm for access to the gym only (no classes).

"Until damage has been fixed, you will only be able to use the gym while staff are present.

"You will not be able to use your fobs to access the gym until the main doors have been fixed early next week.

"You are not being charged membership fees for this weekend.

"Your fees are still frozen until you can access the gym 24/7 again."

Gym instructors Rae Carpenter, Kurt Andrews, Liam Hatch, Craig Wilcox and James Darlington, who left a joint message on Instagram describing the closure as "shocking", will be back to help users.

Anytime Fitness Penarth went on to say: "Rae, Kurt, Liam, James and Craig look forward to seeing you back on the gym floor!

"Thank you for your support and understanding over the last week."


What happened in the strange saga of 24-hour gym suddenly closing?

For members of Anytime Fitness, they signed up to the franchise partly because there is a clue in the name, however, in Penarth, on October 20, gym goers ready to exercise at all hours turned up to their Anytime Fitness to find it closed.

This publication contacted both Project Three Development, who are named in the letter stuck to the door below a closed sign, and Anytime Fitness about the situation while darkness still lingered from its floor-to-ceiling windows that used to display fitness enthusiasts keeping buff day and night.

Anytime Fitness gave an updated line to this publication last week, after they posted on their Penarth Instagram page the gym had closed.

At the time, a spokesperson for Anytime Fitness said: “Anytime Fitness Penarth is temporarily closed.

“The franchise owners are currently in discussions with the landlord and are working tirelessly to reopen the gym as soon as possible.”

The spokesperson also said while the gym remains closed, billing was paused for all members and no payments will be debited “until further notice”.

Penarth Times: The 24-hour gym suddenly closed, but Anytime have regained accessThe 24-hour gym suddenly closed, but Anytime have regained access (Image: Newsquest)

Penarth Times: The instructors were shocked by the landlord's actionThe instructors were shocked by the landlord's action (Image: Anytime Instagram)

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A ‘shocking action’ say gym instructors

The instructors at Anytime Fitness Penarth left an emotional message on social media when they discovered their gym had abruptly closed.

Rae Carpenter, Kurt Andrews, Liam Hatch, Craig Wilcox and James Darlington left a joint message on Penarth Anytime Fitness Instagram, saying: “Thank you for all your kind messages of support since Friday's shocking action and subsequent temporary closure of the gym.

“We're working hard in the background to ensure that when we get word, we're ready to get back to working with you.

“We understand how frustrating this is for you.

“We understand how the gym and the community we have built is more than ‘just going to the gym’.

“We understand that this situation means that many of us will not only struggle with not moving our bodies as we want to, but that for those of us whose workouts play a huge part in our daily mental health care; there is an extra struggle🫂 We hear you.

“We get it. We are with you. And we feel the same.

“Thank you for bearing with us in such early stages of this really unfortunate situation.

“We will continue to update you as soon as we know more.”

Got a story in Penarth? Email harry.jamshidian@newsquest.co.uk.