Norfolk fitness firm takes over Lowestoft gym after four month closure

Published:
14:31 July 22, 2022

Norfolk’s “fastest growing gym chain” has now expanded across the border as it prepares to open a new gym in Lowestoft.

NR Health and Fitness has taken over the former Nirvana gym on Pinbush Road.

It’s the fitness firm’s latest acquisition and owner Nathan Gostling said they hope to open in the first weeks of September.

Nirvana Health and Fitness, formerly operated by Sentinel Leisure Trust (SLT), was the group’s largest center before it closed when the company stopped trading in March.

It offered a great gym, pool, and group exercise rooms.

It was also home to various other services and businesses, including sports massages, beauty therapies, diving sessions, and community education courses.

Now the newly named NR Health and Fitness Club will be given a new lease on life and a much-needed upgrade.

But Gostling said the pool will not reopen for now.

“We are the fastest growing gym chain in Norfolk and we now have our first club in Suffolk,” the 32-year-old said.

“NR Health and Fitness has already had an incredible journey, starting with one gym and now landing on our sixth.

“We’ve really found our momentum. These are really exciting times for us.”

NR Health and Fitness too participated in Fitness 2000 in Great Yarmouth – another site that was operated by SLT – at the beginning of the year, which became the the city’s first gym open 24 hours.

Now they hope to do the same at Lowestoft.

A license application has been submitted to the East Suffolk District Council for the site to be open 24 hours a day.

Mr. Gostling added: “It’s great to be able to open up fitness to everyone with no restrictions.

“Eventually we will look at reopening the pool as well, but it needs some work.

“But if we get off to a good start with the gym, we can reinvest it in the pool and we’ll get all the facilities back up and running.”

“We will also bring back the local boxing club that used to operate from this site, as well as local businesses.”

NR Health and Fitness Club now operates six gyms, including sites in Attleborough, Dereham, Watton and Wymondham.