Barrhead News | News | MYSTERY AS GYM SUDDENLY SHUTS DOWN

Saturday, 22nd November, 2008

Published: Thursday, 28th August, 2008 15:00

MYSTERY AS GYM SUDDENLY SHUTS DOWN

By Amanda Keenan

MYSTERY surrounds the closure of the Barrhead All Body Gym as locals question why it suddenly closed its doors.

Members of the gym were left shocked after they turned up for and discovered the building has been abandoned with the shutters pulled down.

It is believed that the building has been lying empty for the past two weeks.

Opening its doors in 2006 the The Gym was viewed as a vital part of Barrhead’s regeneration process - but now rumours are rife that the owners have allegedly gone out of business and it may not reopen.

One source told the News: “Business was not doing well.

“It came as a bit of surprise that they shut-up shop but from what I have heard they have been struggling to pull in punters.

“It may be because The Gym is on Cross Arthurlie Street and there is trouble there every weekend. Most folk just try to avoid the area now.

“If the rumours are true then it is a shame. The Gym was well liked by a lot of folk in the town.”

The Gym is built on the site of the former notorious Barrhead Hotel - once used by local gangsters to organise drug deals but was closed down several years ago following a string of police raids.

At the time of it opening Mrs Robertson spoke to the Barrhead News and told how she thought The Gym was one of the driving forces in Barrhead’s £100 million regeneration.

She said: “Support has flooded in from local business organisations, community groups and East Renfrewshire council.”

Mrs Robertson also revealed that she plunged her life-savings into the venture.

One rumour is that the business is facing competition from Barrhead Sports Centre which is being used by more people in the town. It is also being suggested The Gym is allegedly struggling to compete with their rival and this may be why it has closed. Another theory circulating is that the owners were served with improvement notices and had to close to carry out repairs. Mrs Robertson was unavailable for comment as the Barrhead News went to press.

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