Working out in Kennington and Oval: New gyms and things

The Gym Group probably consider that their budget gym in Vauxhall has performed well beyond their expections. Last I heard, the £15 per month Vauxhall gym (tucked at the bottom of the St George Wharf building) was completely full and even had a waiting list.  Poor Paris Gym (men only) must have felt the squeeze, since they were the only gym on the block in Vauxhall for a long time.

Due to over-balancing the books in Vauxhall, it's not surprising that The Gym Group have applied for planning permission (11/01811/FUL) for a gym on 131-143 Clapham Road in (what I think is) the new Galliard development (near Caldwell Road).  That's quite a long way down for SE11 residents, but might be useful for readers in SW8 or SW9.  Permission has not yet been received, but I'll keep an eye on that one.  I don't imagine it will be contentious.

To date though, the SE11 heartland of Kennington has been without a gym.  I've often felt that was a missed opportunity because it's a bit of a trip up to the Fusion Centre on the Elephant and Castle roundabout... Most residents seem to trek across to Vauxhall.  But in March this year, I was really pleased to see that a rival budget gym, Pure Gym, announced they'd be opening a branch in Kennington Park Business Centre (opposite Kennington Park and Oval tube station).

The Pure Gym planned for Kennington Business Park opposite Oval Station has moved its opening date from Summer to Autumn and have announced an official launch date of October 27th.  That's positive news, and I imagine a gym there would be very popular.  It's a busy junction hub.  I've had contact with a representative from Pure Gym, and thus can confirm the following details:

The gym will measure 20,000 square metres with 220 pieces of equipment and they claim to run over 40 free classes each day.  Kennington/Oval Pure Gym will be priced at £24.99 per month with a £25 joining fee.  BUT... If you join during the promotional period (usually up until a week before opening), you'll pay £19.99 per month and a £15 joining fee.  Certainly sounds like a good deal although slightly more expensive than its rival's offering.  If you're worried about joining a gym before it opens, they offer a seven day money-back policy so if you don't like it when it opens, you can get your money back within that time period.

So, a new bike shop (Balfe's bikes) for Kennington and a new gym for Oval.  Not bad for an area which used to be very empty.  I suppose that's gentrification (of which I have mixed views) in action.  I know people keep asking when the Waitrose will arrive (and there were rumours that seem to have died down about one near Vauxhall Station), but I think independent shops and restaurants are just as important and should be celebrated.  What I'd really like to see is a new lease of life for Lambeth Walk...  Any takers?

New Gym to open at Kennington Business Park, Canterbury Court, SE11

A new budget 24 hour gym is to be opened in Kennington by Pure Gym in June this year.  After making enquiries, I've found that it will be located at Kennington Park Business Centre, Canterbury Court at the top of Brixton Road.  That location should generate business for both the gym and the business park and will be a very welcome addition to the area.  However, they're being slightly cagey about releasing the "final" location, so don't assume that it's 100% definite until it actually happens.

I've always felt that there's a bit of a gym "gap" in SE11, and I've found trying to get across Vauxhall interchange under the subways to be a major dis-incentive.  (Yeah, yeah, I wasn't exactly enthused about gym-going in the first place!)

The fees (if similar to Wandsworth) will be £20 per month, with no contract and a £20 joining fee.  That's slightly pricier than the Gym group site at Vauxhall, but I've heard recently that there's a waiting list at Vauxhall now, so demand is clearly high.  Also, they've not officially launched their price list or anything, I'm just surmising.

New Gym in Vauxhall

No, it's not quite SE11, but local residents finally have access to a new gym in the vicinity, just over the border in SW8. I complained bitterly back in April last year that the only gym within walking distance of most of SE11 was Paris Gym (the gayest gym in town, which just happens to have a male only policy). Well it appears that some good has finally come of St George Wharf down by the river (either that, or MI6 decided that their spies were getting fat).

It looks as though the St George Wharf management have signed a new gym contract with The Gym Group. And the really good news? (Keep this one quiet, or it might become popular... it's open to those of us who have tightened belts for the credit crunch.) Sign up now and they're offering membership for £15 per month - I'm not linked or subsidised with them in any way, but I don't need to be to say that that's a great price. Also, there is no contract (it appears to be monthtly payments) and no sign up fees (at least for now). It's likely to be basic eg. no swimming pool, but for brand new equipment 24 hours a day, it's a great addition to the area (by comparison, Paris Gym will set you back £460 per year). The place opens on August 10th.

If you see somebody who hasn't exercised properly for years panting away in the corner, you can even come and say "hi" :)

Gyms, and the peculiar perils of pink London

I know I'm still in the middle of nurseries and estate agents, but today I decided to investigate gyms in SE11. I think that there are two.

One of the gyms (Paris Gym) is a male only 'gay' gym (although due to new sexual orientation regulations, they can't discriminate anymore, so the website says it's open to gay and straight men). I suspect, however, that it's probably still a majority gay gym as the whole of the Vauxhall railway arches are a pink mecca. Mostly male pink, but there you go.

This is a bit of a nuisance because your three wheeled pleb is female, and the nearest female only gym is Sydenham! When I asked the guy on the phone about where I could go to the gym in SE11, he was friendly and recommended Waterloo. The problem that the discerning reader will spot is that Waterloo is just not SE11!

This only leaves me with one alternative (which he didn't tell me about) if I choose to go to the gym in SE11, and that is The Brit Oval Health and Fitness Centre. However... A quick google around, and an attempt to phone them reveals that they appear to no longer exist!

The only other gym I know about, not open to the public though, exists in the basement of Imperial Court...