PureGym would consider legal challenge as Liverpool gyms forced to shut

PureGym, one of the UK’s largest gym chains, has said it will consider “any and every” course of action to support the industry, including through legal processes.

It comes as Prime Minister Boris Johnson yesterday announced pubs, bars, gyms, betting shops, casinos, and adult gaming centres in Liverpool City Region are to shut from Wednesday under a new three-tier ‘traffic light system’, after coming to an agreement with local leaders.

In a statement released today, the chain said it was “extremely disappointed” to close its gyms in the area and urged mayors and leaders of the region to “reconsider this retrograde step”, which has “no scientific basis”.

PureGym chief executive Humphrey Cobbold, who signed the statement, said: “If they fail to do so they will have to face and live with the consequences of a less healthy population and associated poorer health outcomes including a weaker immune system.

“And they will be actively contributing to the wilful destruction of a sector that is an essential service (not just another “leisure opportunity”) where many operators – not least council owned leisure facilities – are already in financial distress.”

He continued: “[W]e as sector leaders will not watch this destruction happen.

“We will consider any and every course of action that can be taken to support our industry and members including recourse to legal processes if that is what it takes.”

Mr Cobbold said national and local data indicates gyms are “safe”, with “no evidence of Covid-19 transmission”.

“Indeed, EHO inspectors have in general rated our gyms highly for the Covid-safe protocols that have been implemented.”

He said the decision to close gyms “will have a profound impact on some fitness facilities which are in a perilous state after the first lockdown and it will worsen the physical and mental health of the local population”.

“We - as an industry leader - are committed to protecting all operators in the industry,” he added.

The restrictions in Liverpool means that seven PureGym facilities will have to close from Wednesday.

Mr Cobbold said at its Liverpool gyms, the chain has had more than 300,000 visits from some 31,000 members, during which they have only been notified of 11 members and staff who have tested positive for Covid-19.

It has seen no confirmed cases of transmission in its facilities in the Liverpool area and across its wider estate, he said.