Football legend Paul Scholes has joined forces with children Arron and Alicia to launch a new state-of-the-art gym, Scholes Gym, in his hometown, Oldham.
The 10,000 sq. ft development, designed by award-winning designer Mark Mason, sees a £500k investment in the town, bringing new life to Lees Road.
Run by siblings, 22-year-old Arron, a Level 3 qualified personal trainer, and 20-year-old sister Alicia, a part-time professional athlete playing netball for London Pulse and Level 3 qualified personal trainer, it’s a gym like no other, with rich wooden panelling combined with vast windows and soft lighting providing a warm and inviting feel from the moment fitness enthusiasts pull into the grounds.
The warmth continues as members enter the lounge and reception area, with soft tan leather seating and industrial high-tables providing the perfect space for a pre or post work-out protein shake, handmade on site.
Behind the reception area lies the fitness studio, where the real work begins. As you might expect from a family steeped in sports expertise, Scholes Gym features an impressive range of equipment including cardio, strength and conditioning machines, and weights from Primal Strength.
The gym is designed over two floors including a functional fitness area with personalised track to the ground. Featured equipment includes personalised steel dumbbells ranging from one to 50 kg; pin and plate loaded elite bodybuilding machines; a bespoke Astroturf; and top-of-the-range kit such as the plate loaded fly, which is designed to hit all chest muscle fibres, and an in-loaded standing lateral raise, perfect for building shoulders.
Members also have access to a Batak reaction machine, a piece of kit rarely found outside of professional sports studios and applauded by elite sportspeople including Paul for improving reaction, hand eye coordination and stamina.
Upstairs, an open decked area sees a range of cardio equipment with treadmills, assault bikes, rowers and ski ergs overlooking the floor. For members that like to truly switch off whilst training a range of Sky channels can be enjoyed, projected onto the rear wall. A premium ventilation system promises to keep the atmosphere warm in winter and cool in the summer months.
Behind the cardio equipment, sits an enclosed studio, where a selection of cardio, strength, and conditioning classes can be enjoyed including HIIT, Functional Fitness, and Abs Blast.
Supporting members in realising their fitness goals, is a highly qualified team of experts including Callum Siddall, a Level 4 strength and conditioning coach; Ben Graham, a fitness coach with over ten years’ PT expertise and one of the top CrossFit sportspeople in the country; and Malachi Clarke a Level 3 qualified personal trainer and semi-professional football player with a specialism in weight-loss, strength and conditioning training, and sports performance. Founders Arron and Alicia will also be leading private training sessions.
Speaking on the launch, Arron said, ”After six months of hard work it’s amazing to open the doors and welcome guests to Scholes Gym. It’s something Alicia and I have long talked of, and so to make it a reality is fantastic.
We’re looking forward to welcoming guests and, along with our brilliant team, sharing our sports expertise. To have the opportunity to play a part in our members’ fitness journey and improving their mental and physical health is a privilege.”
Sibling Alicia added, “Gyms can often feel quite cold and functional spaces, we wanted to challenge that head on and create the type of warm and welcoming environment in which we as a family like to train; we’ve all contributed to the design. It’s early days but we’re really pleased by the response to date.”
The launch sees partnerships established with local businesses including Ruger barbers and Hair Lounge in Oldham, with both companies providing a range of products for use in the impressive changing facilities, which feel more like a private bathroom than a communal area thanks to welcome touches including Dyson hairdryers and styling equipment.
Speaking on the importance of investing in the local community, Paul Scholes said, “Oldham is where I grew up and got a first taste of sport. To open Scholes Gym here is really important to me; it’s the sort of venue I dreamed of having access to back then and, along with Arron and Alicia, I’m pleased to be able to create it for others.”
The development took just over six months to complete with the family acquiring the site in September 2021. Seven local jobs have been created.
Memberships start from £40pm for unlimited gym use and £50pm including classes, with the gym open seven days a week. A day pass is available for £12. Community is at the heart of the business with a programme of social events planned, commencing with a member’s barbecue in the summer.
For further information on Scholes Gym or to apply for membership click here.
