Wellness studio revitalises Quayside building

A historic riverside building in Newcastle is entering a new chapter as a premium health and wellness destination aimed at the city’s growing appetite for preventative wellbeing.

Reform Studios has opened on the Quayside in the former Side Gallery building, transforming one of the area’s most recognisable landmarks into a members-only wellness hub. 

The move sees the building continue its long tradition as a place for people to gather, following previous lives as a bookshop and gallery rooted in the city’s cultural and commercial history.

Founded by Victoria Darroch, who has lived in the North East for more than two decades, Reform Studios represents a significant shift from her previous career in finance. 

After more than 25 years working as a financial controller and consultant across SMEs and within the NHS, she has brought her experience in systems, structure and people into a new venture focused on long-term health.

Victoria said: “I’ve helped many small businesses across the North East grow.

“Now it’s my turn to grow something of my own.”

Victoria outside the Reform Studios, on Newcastle's Quayside

Reform Studios offers a holistic programme of services, including Pilates, yoga, meditation and sound healing, alongside a dedicated recovery suite featuring infrared saunas and plunge pools. 

The space also includes a café serving nutritious, wellbeing-focused food designed to fit around the routines of busy city workers.

Reform currently employs seven people, with plans to grow the team to nine as membership increases and future locations are explored. 

Operating on a members-only basis allows the studio to prioritise personalised experiences and foster a strong sense of community among its users.

Demand for the concept has been driven by wider trends in Newcastle’s fitness and wellness market, with reformer Pilates and recovery services growing rapidly.

As the city becomes increasingly international, expectations around high-quality, integrated wellness facilities have risen.

Victoria added: “We have gyms and fitness studios, but we don’t have a truly all-round wellness centre like you see in many other countries. 

“The Quayside is the perfect location – the river, the bridges, the space people already come to run, walk and clear their minds. 

“Newcastle needs this, and it needs it now.

“The wellness industry is booming globally. 

“The North East is behind the curve, and Reform Studios is here to help change that.”

Reform Studios has been designed with the working population in mind, offering early morning classes from 6am, lunchtime sessions suitable for office workers and evening options. 

Members can also pre-order meals from the café to fit wellness into a standard working day.

Alongside individual memberships, the studio offers corporate wellness partnerships, including tailored programmes and its “Know Your Numbers” initiative, which enables businesses to assess employee health metrics and provide personalised 12-week wellbeing plans.

Find out more here.

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