Q&A: Does Pure Gym Franchise in the UK?

Alice Tuffery, writer

Published at 01/11/2020, Updated on 04/05/2022 , Reading time: 5 min

Q&A: Does Pure Gym Franchise in the UK? — Photo © PureGym_logo.jpg

Pure Gym is one of the most famous fitness companies in the UK. Launching a business under its recognisable branding could be incredibly lucrative, but are there any Pure Gym franchise opportunities for budding entrepreneurs?

Here in the UK, there’s huge demand for gym businesses. The industry comprises over 7,000 fitness facilities, which welcome almost 10 million people through their doors on a regular basis (2019 State of the UK Fitness Industry Report). However, 62 percent of British adults are overweight or obese, so there’s still great potential for business owners who’d like to help people achieve their fitness goals in the future.

Pure Gym has been up and running since 2008, when it launched its business model championing affordable memberships and high-quality service. Its network is made up of more than 260 locations and over a million members, so it’s the biggest gym operator in the UK.

Does Pure Gym franchise?

Pure Gym is still in the process of trialling its franchise model, but it plans to open it up to investors in the future. Representatives have revealed the company would like to expand internationally and will be on the lookout for master franchisees who are prepared to open several Pure Gym franchise locations.

At the moment, the business is searching for investors in China, India and Japan, but it may recruit British franchisees as time goes on.

Pure Gym’s Chief Strategy Officer Francine Davis has explained,

“We could see many areas across the world that are under-served by good quality, low-cost fitness with no contract models. We think Pure Gym has a successful model we can transport into other areas of the world and this has led us to create this franchise offering.”

Before the Covid-19 virus struck, Pure Gym had developed a plan to launch 500 clubs in the UK, and more internationally. Although events this year may have delayed progress, it’s worth keeping an eye on the business to see whether any Pure Gym franchise opportunities crop up. It’ll be looking for entrepreneurs who have sufficient capital, as well as real estate experience.

I wanted to become a PureGym brand ambassador mainly because they give so many people the opportunity to get fitter and healthier, become more confident and lead a better life. That is something I am really positive about.

— Dina Asher-Smith, British sprinter, 2018 fastest woman in the world and PureGym Ambassador

>> Read more:

History of Pure Gym

The idea behind the Pure Gym brand was born in 2008, when entrepreneur Peter Roberts launched the business. The following year, its first locations welcomed customers in Leeds, Manchester and Edinburgh. By 2011, the gym brand had expanded into the capital and was starting to make a name for itself.

2013 saw the company acquired by US private equity firm CCMP, and in 2016, Pure Gym established partnerships with AXA PPP Healthcare, O2 and TomTom. In 2017, it was handed over to Leonard Green & Partners by CCMP.

By 2018, Pure Gym had over a million members on its books. It was the first UK gym to reach this impressive milestone.

Early in 2020, the business finalised the acquisition of Fitness World. It added the brand to its portfolio, alongside LA Fitness, which it acquired in 2015, and Ovalhouse Limited, after a transaction in 2018. Now, Pure Gym is the second largest fitness operator in Europe. At the end of 2019, it had 1.7 million members and more than 500 branches across the UK, Denmark, Switzerland and Poland.

PureGym offers really great fitness facilities with enthusiastic, supportive staff. They offer 99% of what 99% of the population could possibly want for a truly great work-out. - Sir Chris Hoy, Olympian and PureGym Ambassador

Today, Pure Gym champions affordable membership fees and contract flexibility. It also keeps its branches open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 265 days a year.

If you’re a Pure Gym member, you have access to between 50 and 80 free fitness classes every week, as well as free weights, cardio areas and personal trainers. You can book sessions or freeze your membership online in seconds, and you won’t have to sign a contract, so you can leave the gym whenever you like. Plus, you can extend your membership to access other Pure Gym locations across the country.

>> Read more:

Starting a Pure Gym franchise unit

As the company hasn’t officially announced the launch of its Pure Gym franchise opportunity yet, there aren’t any clear details about the joining process. However, we can offer some guidance on what you can expect when you start a gym franchise unit.

Becoming a gym franchise partner: If you’re going to launch a gym business, you’ll need to be passionate about fitness and helping others reach their goals. You should also be happy to work unsociable hours from time to time, especially with Pure Gym, as it’s famous for its 24/7 opening hours.
How much you need to invest: As you’ll be fitting out a dedicated facility, you’ll need to be prepared to invest a significant amount. The investment costs of our current gym opportunities range from £38,400 to £450,000.
What you get for your investment: Most franchises offer high-quality training programmes and ongoing support to make sure its franchisees have all the skills and knowledge needed to launch a profitable business. You may also get help with site refurbishment and marketing campaigns.

Join a fitness franchise today

Fitness businesses work well under the franchise model, so we’ve got a wide variety of options on offer, from ‘bootcamps’ to personal training specialists. You can sort the selection of gym franchises by investment cost or popularity, and read more about each opportunity by clicking on the links.

Alternatively, why not consider looking at franchises in the sport and beauty sectors?