A NEW gym hoping to “offer something for everyone” is set to open after it was forced to close during the pandemic.

The owner of Ultimate Fitness, Alex Kelly, 41, from Southend has been working to reopen his gym since it closed during the Covid pandemic.

His hard work has paid off as his new site is nearly ready for its grand opening.

Now based at 457 London Road in Westcliff, the gym first opened in Shoebury Avenue.

The London Road gym will have a whole boxing area, children’s classes, dance classes and a fully equipped gym.

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Alex previously worked in sheet metal fabrication until he was involved in an accident in 2006 when he was crushed by metal in the factory.

After the accident, he went to University to study Sports Science in 2007 and had spinal surgery in 2010 before going on to be a personal trainer.

Now fully healed he is ready to get his business back up and running again.

Mr Kelly said: “I am buzzing, I can’t wait to get it going again.

“We were based in Shoebury Avenue by the train station but the business was hit hard so hard by Covid so we had to close.

“It was a nightmare trying to find a new unit, but we got the chance to get it back up and running.

“We have been at the site since January, building and getting it all set up.

"If it wasn't for Pete and Ian Burroughs for helping me out and storing my gym equipment at their farm during Covid, I wouldn't of been able to carry on - it has given me the opportunity to reopen again. 

“We managed to keep all the equipment from our gym in Shoebury which made a massive difference.”

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He added: “We want the gym to be community-based and to be accessible for everyone.

“We have child fitness classes, classes for special needs, ballroom and Latin and a Spill the Beans coffee shop at the front.

“There is also a whole new boxing area.

“It’s a much better area here, the site was known as a boxing gym before as the former owner ran wrestling classes.”

Ultimate Fitness is set for its grand opening on Saturday, May 20, with the official opening being on Monday, May 22.

For more information, go to the Ultimate Fitness Facebook page or go to @uf_gym on Instagram.