Grace Belgravia closes, blaming Brexit
Brexit is to blame for the closure of women’s-only private members’ wellness club Grace Belgravia.
Grace Belgravia ceased trading on February 18. The club opened in 2012 in London’s wealthy Belgravia with five treatment rooms and a wet spa.
The club’s website has been taken down and instead displays a message from founder and chief executive Kate Percival: “Grace Belgravia has sadly ceased operations.
“The last seven years have been an amazing journey of learning and experience and our staff and practitioners have met and worked with so many inspirational people.
“It has been a period in our lives that we will always value and we would like to thank everyone who has been part of that journey.”
However, the Evening Standard reported a previous statement that has since been removed from the site explicitly blamed Brexit for the decision. It read: “…One word explains why — Brexit. American investors pulled out of funding the company last week because of their increasing concerns about the impact of an aggressive and chaotic Brexit.”
Percival also revealed that many of the club’s high-spending members had already left the UK or were reluctant to renew their memberships given the uncertainty of where they will live after a decision on Brexit is made.
In addition to the spa and beauty offer, the 11,500sq ft space housed a fitness centre, retail boutique, events space, bar and lounge and the Grace Health & Wellbeing Clinic, where members could take up both conventional medicine and alternative health treatments.
Memberships at the club were tiered and included social, corporate, medical, summer and pregnancy options. Prices started at £1,375 annually.
When World Spa & Wellness spoke to Percival in January 2017, Grace Belgravia had 100 staff, a mix of permanent and freelance employees.
The club worked with QMS Medicosmetics, Aromatherapy Associates, Natura Bissé and Caci.
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