OXFORD’S newest gym has opened its doors at the Westgate Centre as the number of fitness centres in the city continues to grow.

Fitness chain Buzz Gym launched its brand new 24-hour fitness club on the rooftop of the city centre shopping mall last week.

Oxford Mail:

However, the opening comes after concerns were raised earlier this year over the future of council funded fitness centres with the rise in budget gyms contributing to a decline in use.

The £1.5million 18,000sq ft site includes two studio spaces, a free weight training zone, cross training area and top of the range equipment.

Buzz Gym CEO Adam Stowell said the new centre would offer gym-goers something different.

Oxford Mail:

Following the opening he said: “We’re so excited to join the line-up at Westgate Oxford and we’ll be offering something more than just your typical gym.

“We’ve got something for everyone, from workouts with live DJs to a huge free weight training zone with Eleiko performance equipment.”

The Oxford site is the fourth gym to be opened by the fitness firm as part of its UK expansion plan with centres also located in Reading, Slough, Swindon, while a fifth gym is set to be opened in Plymouth later this year.

The company says it focuses on ‘atmospheric designs’ including live DJs and nightclub-feel lighting.

It is the latest budget gym to open in the city in recent years joining two existing outlets of competitor Pure Gym.

Westgate general manager Brendan Hattam said: “Buzz Gym is the perfect addition to the offering here at Westgate Oxford, which already boasts a huge range of restaurants and cafes as well as a boutique cinema and sophisticated rooftop bars.

“We’re sure Buzz Gym will be a hit with fitness fans from across the city.”

Oxford Mail:

In June a council report reveal that the future of Oxford’s council-run leisure centres could be under threat owing to the rise in popularity of budget gyms.

The total number of visits to Oxford City Council and Fusion Lifestyle centres dropped by almost 350,000 to just over one million last year with council bosses admitting the competition had upped their game.

The report revealed that events such as Parkrun, Race for Life and Tough Mudder were also partly behind the declining numbers.

However the trend is unlikely to change with no investment planned this year and Fusion ‘feeling the squeeze’ financially, according to the report.

Speaking in June, leisure and performance manager Lucy Cherry said that people now wanted more variety and easily accessible opportunities to be active and that budget gyms were proving more popular.

She said: “These trends have seen more people doing a broader range of activities such as mass participation events such as Park Runs, Race for Life and Tough Mudders.

“Alongside this we now have three budget gyms in Oxford.

“The quality and experience provided by these gyms has improved significantly in recent years and they are a lower price than council leisure facilities.”

Leys Pool and Leisure Centre, Barton Leisure Centre, Ferry Leisure Centre, Oxford Spires Sport and Fitness, Oxford Ice Rink and Hinksey Outdoor Pool are all run in partnership by the council and Fusion Lifestyle.