Gym owners in Stamford and Bourne left wondering when they will reopen

As many hotels and restaurants prepare to open a week tomorrow (July 4), gym owners are wondering if they will be next.

The government has not yet issued any official guidance as to when they can reopen but many gym owners are already getting prepared.

Nick Swann, owner of Rhinos Gymnasium in Ryhall Road, Stamford, said: “We closed on March 20 and we have obviously remained closed.

“Throughout that period we have taken the opportunity to do some major refurbishments and the gym is looking spectacular.”

Nick said his family had helped to carry out the work with social distancing in mind.

He added: “We spent the first nine weeks ripping it apart and refurbishing it. People will be excited to be back.”

Part of this has been to make the building as safe as possible, which included deep cleaning and reorganising of machines, procuring hand sanitiser and ‘sneeze screens’, and installing a new clothes rack.

Nick said: “We are waiting for government advice on changing rooms and showers.

“I think we can still use them if we responsibly social distance and with cleaning. But if the government say we can’t, then we can’t.”

It will be compulsory for people attending Rhinos to sanitise their hands at every door and wipe down equipment after each use, as well as the fitness machines receiving a deep clean each evening by staff.

The closure of gyms for three months has put huge financial pressure on many.

Nick said: “It’s very tough. I know throughout the UK a lot of independent gyms have gone under."

He added that he will never let that happen to his gym.

Nick believes that gyms were well supported during the first eight weeks of lockdown. However, since then they have “not had much guidance and support”.

“I think, by stereotype, gyms are seen as hot and sweaty places but that’s not the case,” he said. “We haven’t been given the chance to show that we can open safely.”

The team at the Universal Fitness Centre in Bourne has stayed connected with customers until the gym is able to reopen.

Instructor Louis Taylor said: “It has been a case of doing as much as we can on social media and our website to keep people as involved as we can.”

He added that a lot of members were “ feeling lost” without the routine of the gym, but that he hoped the government might let gyms reopen in mid-July.

“We are looking forward to seeing all of our lovely loyal members.

“It’s a family run gym so they are not just members they are friends,” added Nick.

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