Academy celebrates 10th anniversary

The Academy health club in Harrogate has celebrated its 10th anniversary with a £400,000 gym refurbishment.

Launched in 1994 by Mark Silver, the club now has around 3,500 members and has won a succession of awards including two consecutive Club of The Year Fitness Industry Association (FIA) Flame Awards and numerous awards for its spa facilities at the British Beauty Awards, including Day Spa of the Year.

The gym has been equipped by Technogym and features individual entertainment screens.

In addition to the refurbishment, the company has also expanded its range of children’s classes for five- to 16-year-olds. These include street dance, boxercise, flexibar, ice cycling and cool kids.

To maximise on the growing number of young people using the facility, The Academy has developed a range of spa treatments for 13- to 16-year-old girls. These include manicures, pedicures and make up advice for as well as party and mother and daughter packages.

“When I first conceived The Academy back in 1992 the intention was to create a place which all the family could use, a place which would intertwine itself into a family's life,” said Silver. “The Academy has fulfilled that role. Not only that, I also believe, as a facility, it is better now than it was 10 years ago. I believe we will go on improving and evolving, and I still have not seen anything better in the industry.”