Celebrity owner of Inverness gym welcomes new August reopening date
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Entrepreneur and television personality Duncan Bannatyne has welcomed First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s announcement that gyms and indoor swimming pools can reopen later this month.
The Dragons’ Den star, who owns 71 UK health clubs including one at Inshes Retail Park, thanked Inverness members for remaining loyal through more than five months’ closure.
The Scottish Government initially gave an indicative date of September 14 for re-opening indoor leisure outlets, but that has been brought forward to August 31.
Mr Bannatyne told the Inverness Courier: “I’m absolutely delighted that we can reopen our Inverness health club.
“A lot of hard work has been going on behind the scenes at all the Bannatyne health clubs to ensure that our large and spacious facilities, which are conducive to social distancing, are safe for members and staff.
“Although some wet area facilities will remain closed for the time being, we hope to be able to reopen these in the near future.
“Most of our members in Inverness have been loyal throughout the pandemic and I am delighted to be welcoming them back.
“I’d also like to personally thank the staff who have remained positive through the very difficult last few months.
“I know they will be as pleased as I am to open the doors again.”
The company says it has undertaken an extensive assessment of the Covid-19 infection risk to members and staff, with changes to its working practices.
The Inverness club will not be operating a booking system for the gym or pools, only for classes, The Bannatyne Group has calculated it has sufficient space for likely demand.
But the local team will be monitoring attendance and has a booking system on standby, ready to use if needed.
Measures include temperature checks on arrival, compulsory wearing of face masks except when exercising, enhanced cleaning procedures, cashless transactions and reduced class sizes.
Hand sanitisers and spacing of equipment has also been put in place along with prominent social distancing floor markings.
Water fountains will be out of use and some showers and lockers out of action.
Hot tubs, steam rooms and saunas will not operate.
Other gyms across Inverness welcomed the Scottish Government move.
Daniel Moore of Dan Moore Elite Training spoke of “relief” at the return to work and described his Longman Road premises as ready and raring to go after putting in place strict measures.
The Forge gym and Gym 300, both at Carsegate Road, also welcomed the development in social media posts.
But the announcement came too late for DW gym at Inverness Retail Park, closed after its parent company went into administration.
