UK fitness industry worth close to £5 billion

UK gyms have more members and a greater market value than ever before. Total membership of gyms and fitness clubs is close to 10 million, with the industry now valued at just under £5 billion.

These findings come from Leisure DB’s 2018 State of the UK Fitness Industry Report, which highlighted a 4.6% increase in the number of fitness facilities in the UK from 6,728 to 7,038, a 2% rise in the number of members and a 2.9% increase in market value over the 12 months to March 2018.

However while the numbers are higher than they’ve ever been, year on year growth slowed compared to the previous year, when the industry experienced increases of over 5% in both member numbers and market value.

Private operator Pure Gym became the first to reach 200 clubs earlier this year, and Leisure DB predicted in the report that publically operated GLL is also likely to surpass 200 clubs, with 194 at the time the report was published.

In total, 275 new facilities opened over the year to March 2018, up from 272 in 2017.

David Minton, director of Leisure DB commented: “…I’m sticking to my prediction that the period up to 2020 remains the time for fitness to continue to break all barriers. It has for the past six years, after all; and as the consumer gets more personalisation, localisation, seamless booking and payment options, taking part will become easier.”