Worthing Leisure Centre's brand-new gym opens to enthusiastic welcome following £2 million transformation

There was plenty of excitement at Worthing Leisure Centre on Monday morning, 19th October, as customers got their first chance to experience the centre's brand-new gym, following months of redevelopment work.

 The new gym opened to a full first-morning session, with members eager to explore the transformed facilities, new equipment and significantly expanded training space. 

The opening marks a major milestone in South Downs Leisure's £2 million redevelopment of Worthing Leisure Centre, which began in May this year and is being delivered in partnership with Inspace Fitness. 

The transformation has created a much larger and more modern gym, featuring a completely refreshed layout, upgraded flooring and lighting, an expanded free weights area, and a significantly enhanced range of strength, cardio and functional training equipment.

The new facilities also include a dedicated recovery offering, featuring a Sunlighten red light sauna, HydroMassage and CryoLounge, giving customers even more opportunities to support their health, fitness and wellbeing.

Early feedback from customers has been overwhelmingly positive, with members particularly impressed by the space, variety of equipment and overall transformation.

One customer commented: "It's such a difference! There's so much variety in the equipment, and the gym feels incredibly spacious and open, even when it's busy."

 Another customer was particularly impressed with the additional equipment and recovery facilities:

"They've done an amazing job! There's so much more space, and the extra equipment means a better workout. The new recovery area and beds are a really welcome addition, and the gym and sauna look beautiful too!"

Accessibility has also been an important focus throughout the redevelopment, with a spacious, step-free layout and wheelchair-accessible strength equipment helping to create a more inclusive and welcoming environment for all users.

One FIT4 member praised the improvements, saying: "The adaptability and accessibility of the equipment are fantastic. It's a brilliant addition and means I'll definitely be making more use of my FIT4 membership."

Alongside the new gym, the centre's reception area has also undergone a significant transformation, creating a fresh and welcoming entrance for customers.

 Duncan Anderson, Chief Executive Officer at South Downs Leisure, said: "It's fantastic to finally be opening the doors to our new gym, and seeing so many customers coming in to experience it for the first time has been brilliant.

"We've been looking forward to this moment for months, and the response from our members makes all the hard work worthwhile.

"As a charitable trust, our focus is always on making a positive impact in the communities we serve. This investment is about much more than new equipment or a new look. It's about creating welcoming, inclusive spaces that encourage more people to get active, support their wellbeing and feel part of their local community.

"We're incredibly proud of what we've achieved so far, and I want to say a huge thank you to our customers and staff for their patience and support throughout the redevelopment. We know there has been disruption along the way, and we're extremely grateful for everyone's understanding. We hope people will agree that the wait has been worth it!"

The £2 million redevelopment is being delivered in partnership with Inspace Fitness, whose equipment and expertise have played a key role in transforming the gym and creating an enhanced training experience for customers.

Ben Steadman, Managing Director at Inspace Fitness, said: "It's fantastic to see the new gym at Worthing Leisure Centre officially open and customers enjoying the space for the first time.

"We've really enjoyed working in partnership with South Downs Leisure on this exciting redevelopment. Our aim has been to create a modern, welcoming and inspiring fitness environment, with high-quality equipment, improved accessibility and a layout that supports a wide range of training needs.

"The transformation is something we're incredibly proud to be part of, and we're looking forward to continuing the partnership as the next stage of the redevelopment gets underway."

While the new gym and reception are now open, the wider redevelopment of Worthing Leisure Centre is not yet complete.

The project will now move into its third and final stage, which will see the former weights room and Projectile Range transformed into two new fitness studios and a new active play area, further expanding the centre's health, fitness and family activity offering.

The new gym and reception are now open to customers, with further updates on the remaining redevelopment works to follow.