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Mike Ashley’s Sports Direct plan to open 200 budget gyms

Sports Direct, founded by Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley, plans to open 200 low-cost gyms across the country, exploiting a gap in the market for budget gyms.

Membership will reportedly be available for as little as £5 per month, whilst there will also be a separate £10 joining fee.

The sports retailer is currently in the process of rebranding 30 gym sites following an acquisition of property from gym chain LA fitness.

The first gym will open in Liverpool’s Aintree, which will be next to a new Sports Direct superstore, whilst a second will soon open in Keighley, West Yorkshire.

Sports Direct’s move into budget gyms comes at a convenient time after two gym companies, Pure Gym and the Gym Group, cancelled plans to merge and create a new low-cost player in the market.

A spokesperson for Sports Direct told the BBC: “This will be affordable fitness on an unprecedented scale.

“It will revolutionise the market by making private gym membership a realistic lifestyle choice for millions of people.”

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