SWEAT TAKE 2
Luke Newton of Sweat Fitness discusses their new gym opening in the regenerated Knight & Lee premises
I
n 2015 we opened the doors of Sweat Southsea for the first time. We had taken on a damp and cold warehouse
sandwiched between a carpet shop and tyre garage, and quite frankly we didn’t have a clue what we wanted to do, other than provide our clients with a training environment free from the crowds, egos, and intimidation of commercial gyms. Fast forward six years and we are
This past year has highlighted just how intrinsically entwined the six pillars of wellness are. We now realise that we need to focus on our social, emotional, environmental, spiritual, mental as well as physical well-being. 95% of our clients surveyed during the first lockdown said they were exercising to help their mental well-being. I’m not sure we’d have seen the same response pre-pandemic.
preparing to open a new set of doors within the iconic Knight & Lee building — our gym will be in what was menswear and haberdashery! We’re excited to leave the back streets and hit the high street, with our new neighbours within the redevelopment including shared workspaces, retail, hotel, a cinema, and a bar.
Sweat Southsea
Luke and Tina of Sweat, with their daughter
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We’re proud of our holistic approach, and our members are set to benefit from access to a new digital member zone — home to workshops with psychologists, nutritionists, and other experts. We’ve been asking ourselves what further value can we offer our members? For the first time, our clients will enjoy independent gym use outside of their 1-1 sessions and classes. So, as well as hitting the barre or lifting barbells, our clients will now have the additional benefit of access to strength and cardio equipment. We believe that a hybrid approach is not a stopgap, but the future for gyms, so we also plan to continue with livestreaming and outdoor classes.
