East Mids gyms sold to social enterprise

Two East Midlands gyms have been sold to Places for People Leisure.

The gyms, in Chesterfield and Hinckley, will operate under the Places Gym brand after being bought from Simply Gyms.

Places for People Leisure is a social enterprise and manages a portfolio of over 100 leisure facilities for local authorities across the country.

A further gym in Telford has also been bought.

The company entered the low-cost gym sector in May 2015, launching its community gym brand ‘Places Gym’ to expand its reach and further its social purpose of creating ‘active places and healthy people’. The acquisition doubles the number of Places Gyms, with the other Places Gyms located in Preston, Sheffield and Corby.

Bevan Brittan advised Places for People Leisure on the deal.

Richard Hiscoke, social economy lawyer at Bevan Brittan, said: “Places for People Leisure is a great example of a successful social enterprise. It has a real passion for its social mission – helping local communities stay physically active and emotionally engaged in fitness, sport and well-being. It is a pleasure to have worked with the PfPL team on this strategic acquisition.”

Damian Watts, business development manager at Places for People Leisure, said: “Bevan Brittan has been excellent in supporting us throughout this acquisition process; an exciting ‘first’ for our company. Having such an experienced law firm to rely on in a new market has been very reassuring. We would like to thank Richard Hiscoke, Alison Buckingham and Natalie Day for the professional and committed manner in which they have worked alongside us throughout this process.”