Morecambe gym to stay open after insolvent owner is bought by Sports Direct company

The company, which has gyms and retail sites in Morecambe, Blackpool, Preston, Burnley, Blackburn and Wigan, appointed insolvency specialists after its income was wiped out by the protracted closure of stores and gyms during lockdown.

DW Sports, which was founded by former Wigan Athletic owner Dave Whelan, operated 73 gyms and 75 retail sites across the UK but announced plans to shut 25 of its stores last month.

The company's retail and leisure businesses have now been sold as a going concern to SDI Fitness (DW) Limited (‘SDI’), part of Frasers Group PLC, which is a subsidiary of sports retail and leisure giant Sports Direct.

Mike Ashley's Sports Direct bought much of Dave Whelan's previous business JJB Sports out of administration in 2012.

All of the gyms will be re-branded as Everlast Fitness Clubs.

Members received notification of the transfer this week.

The company said: "As a result of the sale, your gym at Morecambe will remain open and trading under new ownership and your membership has automatically transferred to SDI with effect from 24 August 2020.

"Your membership fees will be collected in the usual way towards the end of this month and you will receive further information regarding new arrangements with SDI during the course of September.

Fitness First Clubs Limited remains a separate company and its 43 clubs are unaffected by the administration of DW Sports."