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Sports Direct to launch budget gym chain in Keighley

High street retailer Sports Direct, founded by Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley, has unveiled plans for a budget gym chain, with one of its first branches to be opened in Keighley in West Yorkshire.

The sports chain, who has its headquarters in Shirebrook in Derbyshire, plans to open 200 gyms offering membership from £5 a month, with a £10 joining fee.

The decision follows its acquisition of 30 sites from gym chain LA Fitness, which it is in the process of rebranding, and the gym in Aintree will be next to a new Sports Direct superstore.

A spokesman for Sports Direct said: “This will be affordable fitness on an unprecedented scale.

“It will revolutionise the market by making private gym membership a realistic lifestyle choice for millions of people.”

This move comes after Pure Gym and the Gym Group ditched plans to merge and create a new low-cost player in the market.

Sports Direct, founded by Mike Ashley in 1982, operates 418 sports stores in the UK. The firm’s shares were down 2.7% on Tuesday.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Clare Burnett .