PureGym
{{Short description|Fitness club chain in the United Kingdom}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox company
| name = PureGym
| logo = Pure gym logo.png
| logo_caption = PureGym logo launched in 2015
| type = Private company
| industry = Health clubs
| founded = 2009
| founder = Peter Roberts
| location = Leeds, UK
| num_locations = Over 600{{cite web |title=Interim Financial Report for the nine months ended 30 September 2024 |url=https://s28.q4cdn.com/583314398/files/doc_financials/2024/q3/PureGym-Q324-Report-Final.pdf |publisher=PureGym}} gyms
| num_locations_year = 2024
| area_served = United Kingdom, Switzerland, United States, Denmark, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates
| key_people = Humphrey Cobbold (CEO)
| owner = Leonard Green & Partners
| website = https://www.puregym.com
}}
File:Pure Gym, Cloth Hall Street, Leeds (12th April 2014).JPG
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.{{cite web |title=Interim Financial Report for the nine months ended 30 September 2024 |url=https://s28.q4cdn.com/583314398/files/doc_financials/2024/q3/PureGym-Q324-Report-Final.pdf |publisher=PureGym}}{{cite news |last1=Kemp |first1=Kenny |title=PureGym breaks through the million member barrier |url=https://www.insider.co.uk/news/puregym-breaks-through-million-member-14578890 |access-date=26 December 2020 |work=Insider.co.uk |date=25 April 2019}}{{cite web |title=Overview |url=https://corporate.puregym.com/about-puregym/overview |website=PureGym |access-date=26 December 2020 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Culot |first1=Caroline |title=Norwich gym to close after being taken over by rival firm |url=https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/business/norwich-gym-to-close-and-to-re-open-under-new-1464200 |access-date=26 December 2020 |work=Eastern Daily Press |date=17 October 2019 |language=en-UK}}{{cite news |last1=Reporter |first1=LLB |title=Pure Gym reaches 1 million members and announces opening of 200th gym in the UK |url=https://londonlovesbusiness.com/pure-gym-reaches-1-million-members-and-announces-opening-of-200th-gym-in-the-uk/ |access-date=26 December 2020 |work=London Loves Business |date=21 February 2018}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.healthclubmanagement.co.uk/health-club-management-news/-PureGym-to-acquire-European-operator-Fitness-World/343985|title=PureGym to acquire European operator Fitness World|date=2019-12-12|publisher=Health Club Management}} As of December 2024, PureGym has 362 gyms in the UK, and 161 in Denmark.{{Citation|url=https://corporate.puregym.com/about-us/overview/default.aspx|title=Locations|publisher=PureGym}} Approximately 66% of PureGym's revenue comes from its UK operations.{{cite web |url=https://s28.q4cdn.com/583314398/files/doc_financials/2024/q3/PureGym-Q324-Report-Final.pdf |publisher=PureGym |page=21 |title=Interim Financial Report for the nine months ended 30 September 2024}}
Facilities
Most locations are open 24 hours a day{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2012/jan/29/exercise-in-all-night-gym |title=Hard at it in the all-night gym | Life and style |work=The Guardian |date=2016-08-29 |access-date=2016-09-08}} 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.{{cite web | url=https://www.puregym.com/landing/safety-and-security/ | title=Safety and Security }}
Ownership and management
PureGym was privately owned by CCMP Capital and other investors.{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/leisure/10082006/Private-equity-takeover-lifts-Pure-Gym.html|title=Private equity takeover lifts Pure Gym|date=26 May 2013 |publisher=|access-date=8 September 2016}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/businessclub/11029227/The-Gym-Group-keen-to-cut-pounds-in-growth-market.html|title=The Gym Group keen to cut pounds in growth market|date=13 August 2014 |publisher=|access-date=8 September 2016}}
In May 2015, PureGym Ltd bought their UK rival LA Fitness for around £60 million to £80 million.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-32927069|title=Pure Gym to buy rival LA Fitness|publisher=BBC News|date=29 May 2015}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/may/29/pure-gym-buys-la-fitness|title=Pure Gym buys LA Fitness|last=Hickey|first=Shane|date=2015-05-29|website=The Guardian|access-date=2018-01-15}}
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.{{Cite news |last=Bury |first=Rhiannon |date=2017-11-03 |title=US private equity firm with Topshop stake snaps up Pure Gym |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2017/11/03/us-private-equity-firm-topshop-stake-snaps-pure-gym/ |access-date=2018-01-15 |work=The Telegraph |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}}[https://www.physiquesports.co.uk]
In December 2019 PureGym agreed to buy Danish Fitness World, which also operated in Switzerland and Poland, for £350 million.{{cite news |url=https://www.cityam.com/puregym-expands-in-europe-with-350m-acquisition-of-fitness-world/ |title=Puregym expands in Europe with £350m acquisition of Fitness World |last=Booth |first=James |website=CityAM |date=12 December 2019 |access-date=29 January 2020}}
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{{Cite web|date=2021-07-20|title=Basefit.ch wird bis Ende 2021 in PureGym umbenannt|url=https://basefit.ch/puregym.html|access-date=2021-11-24|website=basefit.ch|language=de-DE}}
It has a 2-star accreditation from Best Companies and a BCI score of 696.6.{{cite web |url=https://www.b.co.uk/company-profile/?pure-gym--91921 |title=Pure Gym: BCI |publisher=Best Companies}}
PureGym opened in Dubai in 2022. PureGym UAE is headed up by CEO Susan Turner, with operations being handled by John Foy.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category|PureGym}}
- [https://www.puregym.com PureGym United Kingdom]
- [https://puregym.dk PureGym Danmark]
- [https://puregym.swiss PureGym Swiss]
- [https://uae.puregymarabia.com/ PureGym Arabia, UAE]
- [https://ksa.puregymarabia.com/ PureGum Arabia, KSA]
Category:Health clubs in the United Kingdom
Category:Companies based in Leeds