Newbury landmark cinema building to house new fitness centre

Built in the 1930s as the Forum Cinema, before becoming the ABC cinema, the building was last occupied by Energie Fitness, until the company folded in July.
This week it was revealed that a charitable sports trust, established for 50 years, had taken a 20-year lease on the West Berkshire Council-owned building which was surrounded by scaffolding earlier this year, and has been vacant for several months.
A spokesman for the Basingstoke Sports Trust, Andrew Rhys, said that the company might have an edge, where similar businesses have failed, because it had been in the industry for 44 years.
“Our prices are very keen. We pride ourselves on a quality service,” he said.
Facilities will include a swimming pool, with children’s swimming lessons available, 100-station gymnasium, training room and sauna and a full range of studio classes, from spinning to Zumba, body combat to yoga.
Mr Rhys said that jobs for fitness and swimming instructors would be advertised in due course.
The chairman of the trust, Martyn Frost, said that it was exciting news for the charity.
He said: “We have become more ambitious over recent years and are keen to extend the benefit of regular physical activity into other communities.”
He said that over the last few years they had considerably increased the number of people visiting Basingstoke Sports Centre.
“This is something we are extremely proud of and we aim to provide a similarly successful operation at our new site.”
The trust will retain 41 car park spaces at the rear of the site, which are available free of charge to club members (only).
Planning permission for signage to the front the building was submitted last week to West Berkshire Council.
“We hope to have permission by the middle of March at the latest,” added Mr Rhys.
The planning application includes proposals for four banner signs, including one across the top of the building, two further signs and two light boxes illustrating the studio and swimming pool timetables.
Membership will cost £29.95 a month and be valid for both peak and off-peak hours. The club which is set to open from 6.30am to 10pm, Monday to Friday, and from 8am to 7pm Saturday and Sunday.