Everybody Health and Leisure, a charity operating facilities for Cheshire East Council in the UK, has taken over the Simply Gym site in Crewe – a large commercial gym and part of the Simply Gym portfolio.

The club will be rebranded as Everybody @ Crewe West and will be the operator's third health club in the town, alongside Crewe Lifestyle Centre in Moss Square and Cumberland Arena in Thomas Street.

Existing staff will be retained and membership held at the same rate.

The move follows a Strategic Leisure Review by Cheshire East Council that included a public consultation between November 2023 and January 2024 that identified the need to invest in Macclesfield and Crewe.

The result is an emphasis on improving health outcomes through targeted health programmes which encourage physical activity and provide access to better facilities.

The charity invested in Macclesfield earlier this year, opening the new facility Everybody @ Macclesfield Central, as well as a newly-designed and equipped gym at Macclesfield Leisure Centre.

In addition to these leisure and sports facilities, Everybody has also taken on operation of park cafés in Queen’s Park in Crewe and West Park in Macclesfield. Keeping these community assets open and available for the public.

Thomas Barton, CEO of Everybody Health and Leisure says: “We're happy to say we're holding prices for members, with good value and a good fitness provision at the site complementing broader health services for the local community. We're looking forward to welcoming staff from the existing site at Crewe West, as well as existing and new members and are committed to investing in and protecting the long term future of leisure and sport in Cheshire East.”

Significant works are ongoing to improve the Cumberland Arena in Crewe, where Everybody is working with Cheshire East Council to use money from the Towns Fund on a redevelopment project. Part of the existing arena building will be demolished and a new two-storey extension built to provide a reception area, as well as three new multi-functional studio spaces to host classes and targeted health programmes. There will also be significantly improved facilities for spectators, including covered seating.

Simply Gym is a successful, family-run 24/7 budget gym operator, owned by Phil and Gillian Taylor and sister company Riverside Sports and Leisure – also ownerd by the Taylors,

Riverside Sports and Leisure has clubs in Gloucester, Bristol and Cardiff.

Simply Gym launched in Cheltenham in 2011 and now has eight locations following the deal with Everybody Health and Leisure.