Covid-19 pandemic forces permanent closure of popular Doncaster gym

Xercise4Less on York Road, Doncaster announced its shutdown in an email to gym members and a brief statement on its website.

The announcement read: “Xercise4Less Doncaster is now permanently closed.

“Your membership has been automatically transferred to JD Gyms Doncaster.

“Please check your emails for further details and next steps.

“We wish you the very best as you continue your fitness journey.”

Earlier this year, JD Gyms, which has a branch at Shaw Lane in Doncaster, acquired the Xercise4Less brand after the administrators were called in.

Xercise4Less ran into financial trouble earlier this year after being hit badly by the COVID-19 lockdowns.

It announced in May that it was being sold off by its investors, directors and shareholders and up until late June, the company was hopeful that a deal could be struck to allow it to continue operations under the Xercise4Less brand.

The administrators later confirmed the sale of the business to JD Gyms.

All existing Xercise4Less employees have transferred across to the new business and, according to administrators, there will be "no interruption to existing customer memberships".

All gyms have across England have been closed under the latest nationwide coronavirus lockdown, but are set to re-open on December 2 when the current round of restictions end.

Non essential shops will also be allowed to re-open, but Doncaster has been placed into Tier 3 – the highest level of the Government’s restrictions – meaning pubs and restaurants will stay closed.