The Gym Group on plans to open 75 new sites: “We’re open to as many opportunities as we can find”
The Gym Group is “open to as many opportunities as we can find”, says the group’s chief property officer Hamish Latchem, as the operator targets 75 new sites over the next three years.
The chain has been steadily increasing its footprint in recent years, having opened 16 new sites last year, up from 12 in 2024. This year, the group is looking to increase its year-on-year growth once again, with an ambition to open between 20 and 22 sites in 2026.
“That indicates a clear increase in our aspirations for site openings”, Latchem tells Completely Retail News, “it all ties into our wider strategy.”
The Gym Group – which operates over 260 locations across the UK – is working with its retained agent Savills to find suitable units across the UK.
Latchem, who was previously national store development director at Aldi, says there’s “no one distinct area” the operator is specifically targeting:
“We have such a good mix in our portfolio, including retail parks, mixed-use schemes, and all of these are performing really well for us. We’re open to any of those opportunities, our model is incredibly flexible.
“We would love to be on more retail parks and it would be great to find sites in those locations, but at the moment a lot of those locations are a little bit more limited.”
Hamish Latchem and Carlene Hughes
Carlene Hughes, director in Central London retail at Savills, who assists The Gym Group in its expansion, says the operator has had to be “open-minded” in the types of units it takes, citing the lowest vacancy rates amongst retail parks since 2017.
As a result, the chain has turned to industrial units in some locations, says Hughes:
“There’s been quite a lot of speculative industrial developments that have completed over the last 12 or 18 months that haven’t got the tenant they thought they we’re going to get, and therefore we’ve had an opportunity to look at that because our strong covenant means that we really appeal as a tenant.”
The Gym Group’s rapid expansion has tied into the growth within the wider leisure and wellness industry. According to Leisure DB’s State Of The UK Fitness Industry Report 2025, the total number of gyms in the UK exceeded 7,200 in 2025, representing a year-on-year increase of 2.8% and a near return to pre-pandemic levels. Other operators which have continued to expand include PureGym, which was the most acquisitive operator in the retail warehouse market in both 2024 and 2025, as well as JD Gyms, Anytime Fitness, and Third Space.
“One of the most pertinent points relating to the growth in wellness and leisure is that the fitness industry is seen more and more as a core aspect of someone’s discretional spend”, says Latchem, “it’s no longer a luxury, it’s becoming more a part of everyday spend, especially in the younger generations.”
“As a result of that I think that drives a significant amount of the resilience in the industry. People see it as something they have to do”, he adds.
Hughes also highlights the strength of leisure spending during periods of purse-tightening:
“If the low-cost gym sector offers £20-a-month or so on a gym membership, that’s not going to break the bank versus going out and buying yourself a new fridge or a sofa. So that tends to be one of the last things that people do give up when they’re trying to rein in the spending.
“Particularly the younger generations now like to do a variety of types of wellness and fitness activities, whether it be sauna and plunge, outdoor fitness and sports, or specialised classes like Pilates. So you can have a Gym Group membership for say, £20 a month, but you can also then supplement that with some of those other channels of fitness.”
As for what sets The Gym Group apart, Hughes says that the operator provides “a lot of certainty” in what it can offer to landlords:
“Some of these other businesses are franchised, which can mean that you don’t really know who you’re going to be dealing with when you take a site forward. There’s a lot of certainty in what we can offer and when we say ‘yes we’ll take this site’, 99 times out of 100 it’s going to happen.”
The Gym Group’s latest format, seen here at Norwich Sweet Briar
The Gym Group’s latest period of expansion comes as the operator launches its latest format. Latchem says the group has increased its focus on its kit mix, providing more plate-loaded and pin resistance equipment:
“We’ve really focused on the strength aspect of our offering. We have clear data insights that suggest that that is the trend of the market at the moment, especially among the younger membership.
“We’ve also looked at things like our general wall finishes, lighting, all of these elements that come together to effectively give a holistic improvement to our gyms. I think that’s a really strong driver for us with a lot of landlords, effectively becoming the anchor tenant in some respects.
“Our first opening of this year was in Stamford Hill, and we’re pleased with the format development that’s taken place there, we’ve got some further enhancements in terms of zonalisation of our equipment, providing a little bit more Hyrox functionality. Of our openings last year, Norwich Sweet Briar was a slightly larger format, about 20,000 sq ft, which enabled us to include a lot of these new developments. That’s a really good example of our 2025 openings where we’ve been able to push the boundaries and deliver something that we’re all really impressed with.”
The Gym Group is seeking units ranging between 5,000 sq ft and 20,000 sq ft in size, with a maximum of two floors. Leasehold and freehold units will be considered across various asset types. Ideal units will be situated in highly visible locations, with easy access to parking or transport hubs.