A POPULAR Basildon gym has closed its doors suddenly, leaving customers blindsided.

EasyGym, in Basildon’s Westgate Shopping Centre, shut suddenly yesterday, with the company posting in a Google account update that “regrettably easyGym Basildon has now ceased trading”.

EasyGym, which was branded as a “friendly community gym” has been in Westgate since May 2019, providing fitness classes, no-sign up fees and emphasis on affordability and 24/7 service for members.

It provided memberships from £16.99.

Basildon resident and easyGym member, Vin Kal, 45, said: “I would go with my group of mates as it was cheaper and more affordable.

“I am sure there are other gyms with other services but that is a bit far from me, as I am on the other side of Basildon.

“I campaigned to get five of my friends to pre-pay for three months of membership, I pay for 24 months and you could save three months of membership through this.

“Not even two weeks since then and we have all been left very upset that the gym has closed.”

Mr Kal said there were now questions over what would happen next.

He said: “It was a good and affordable gym on my side of Basildon and there is another, Kingswood, but we don’t want to pay more money.

“EasyGym was also convenient because it had two hours of free parking at Westgate so anybody could come in and get sorted. Me and my friends would go there to relax, crack jokes and have a good time.”

Mr Kal added that he fears for the money his friends have already put into their subscriptions and has immediately cancelled his direct debit.

An easyGym spokesman said: “Regrettably easyGym Basildon has now ceased trading.

“The company has instructed Mercer and Hole LLP to assist with placing it into liquidation and they will shortly be contacting all members who made advance membership payments as they will become unsecured creditors in the liquidation.”