In the gym in July? Minister says he hopes to have them open by the middle of next month


In the gym in July? Minister Oliver Dowden says he ‘aspires’ to have indoor sports venues open by the middle of next month – as Dragons’ Den star Duncan Bannatyne warns of thousands of job losses

  • Sport Secretary said it was an ‘aspiration’ to reopen indoor fitness within weeks 
  • Gyms were left off a list of venues that will be allowed to reopen on July 4
  • Ex-Dragons’ Den star Duncan Bannatyne warned industry could lose 50,000 jobs

Former Dragons’ Den star Duncan Bannatyne warned the industry could lose 50,000 jobs if gyms remain closed

Gyms could be open by the middle of July as long as it is safe to do so, a Cabinet minister revealed today in a boost for the nation’s fitness.

Sport Secretary Oliver Dowden said it was an ‘aspiration’ to reopen indoor fitness within weeks, after they were left off a list of venues that will be allowed to reopen on July 4.

Gyms and sports centres were listed along with spas and beauty salons as venues where it was still too dangerous to reopen by Boris Johnson this afternoon, due to the risk of infection.

But in a later tweet Mr Dowden revealed plans were underway for them to reopen.

It came as former Dragons’ Den star Duncan Bannatyne warned the industry could lose 50,000 jobs if gyms remain closed. 

Mr Bannatyne, who runs 72 gyms and health clubs across the UK, accused scientists of ‘playing God with our lives’ as he demanded clarity.

His business is losing £2.5m a month due to their closure.

Writing online Mr Dowden said: ‘Many people keen to hit the gym and keeping Britain fit is key in Covid battle.

‘We’ve made lots of progress and I know steps businesses have taken to make their places and equipment safe.

‘Subject to public health, our aspiration is to reopen gyms and leisure facilities in mid-July.’

Sport Secretary Oliver Dowden said it was an 'aspiration' to reopen indoor fitness within weeks, after they were left off a list of venues that will be allowed to reopen on July 4

Sport Secretary Oliver Dowden said it was an ‘aspiration’ to reopen indoor fitness within weeks, after they were left off a list of venues that will be allowed to reopen on July 4

Boris Johnson has earlier told the House of Commons that ‘difficult judgments’ had been made in deciding which businesses were able to reopen.

Many elements of the beauty sector will remain shut including spas, nail bars, tattoo parlours, beauty salons and massage parlours.

Businesses, many of which include close proximity between households, such as indoor gyms, soft play areas, swimming pools and nightclubs will remain closed.

Bowling alleys, water parks and casinos will also not be allowed to reopen.

Indoor sports and dance venues and skating rinks will stay closed – however, outdoor gyms will be allowed to reopen.

PureGym, one of the UK’s largest operators with more than one million members, has said it was ‘extremely disappointed’ in the Prime Minister’s announcement.

In a statement, the company said: ‘We understand that these decisions are not easy, but it is a strange ‘war on obesity’ that sees pubs and restaurants open before gyms.

‘Our facilities are, on average, the size of five or six doubles tennis courts and are exceptionally well ventilated, enabling people to work and exercise safely and securely.

‘Through our existing electronic entry system, we know the names and details of every single member in our facilities at any moment.’

The statement added that industry-agreed guidance on hygiene and social distancing was submitted to the Government early in May and continued: ‘We are bitterly disappointed that the one sector that has the potential to help people and that has developed clearly workable protocols for safe operations is prevented from opening for a further undefined period.

‘We urgently call on the Prime Minister to re-examine the evidence, engage with us and our industry bodies, and allow people back into gyms as soon as possible.’