The former Total Fitness gym in Huddersfield is to re-open in early 2024 after a £4 million investment.

The popular gym on the Tandem Industrial Estate in Wakefield Road, Waterloo, has been empty since the start of the pandemic in 2020.

Now an experienced gym operator, with two gyms in the North West, is to open up the premises under a new brand name, Big Box Leisure Club, creating around 50 new jobs.

Total Fitness ran for over 20 years and had a loyal client base. It never re-opened after the pandemic and the company announced its permanent closure in March 2021 as part of a Company Voluntary Arrangement with creditors.

Negotiations over a lease on the building have finally been concluded and now, on National Fitness Day, Big Box Leisure Club can be revealed as the new operator.

The company, headed by businessmen Jamie Lyne and Simon Ryan, is planning a total renovation and an investment in the latest equipment.

Jamie said: “We know this gym was really well-established and popular with the local community and it’s great that we can finally bring it back, bigger and better than ever.

“Funding for a project of this scale did take some time but the lease has now been signed and the building has been stripped inside and the fit out is well under way.”

The gym will be aimed at the family market, for people aged from five to 80-plus.

There will be a massive gym area with high-standard changing rooms, a ladies-only gym and a supervised teen gym for young people aged 11 to 15. There will be various studios and classes including a boot camp room, boxing workout called Box 12 and spin classes.

The swimming pool will also be brought back into use and there will be a spa area with coffee shop too.

Big Box is aiming for a “mid-range” price point and wants to build on the success of its other gyms at Waterside Hotel & Leisure Club in Didsbury and Brooklands Health Club in Sale, both in Greater Manchester.

There will be pre-sold membership offers and a sales team will be on site during renovations.

Jamie added: “We know how important this gym is to local people and we want to be part of the community and give back as much as we can.

“Obviously everybody wants to know when we’re going to be open and it will be early in the New Year if not before.

“We want to get this right and make sure the gym is a place our members and the wider community can be really proud of.”

Anyone who wants to register an interest, find out more about jobs including classes and personal training should register an interest through the website HERE.

Follow Big Box on social media – search BigBox Huddersfield on Facebook or @bigboxhuddersfield on Instagram

A first look inside the new BigBox Leisure Club at the former Total Fitness gym in Huddersfield