Century-old gym at risk over rent increase

The owner of one of the UK's oldest powerlifting gyms said it is struggling to survive as Transport for London's property firm seeks to raise its rent.

Physical Culture in Putney, south-west London, said Places for London, the building's owner, raised the rent from £26,500 to £41,500 following the Covid-19 pandemic, and wants to raise it again from November by the rate of inflation plus 1%.

Set up in 1928, the gym has seen Olympians and other champion athletes train there over the years, including George Hackenschmidt, the first World Heavyweight Wrestling Champion.

Owner Chris Quinn, who has run the gym since the late 1980s, said "since the pandemic we've just been in survival mode".

Quinn said he had to spend "vital funds" after the pandemic hiring a chartered surveyor to negotiate the proposed £45,000 annual rent increase down to a stepped rent rise to £41,500 over three years.

He added it has also been fighting to survive other major impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, including being forced to shut for prolonged periods.

Quinn and his staff members stressed the irreplaceable role the gym plays in forging communities and helping to tackle loneliness.

He said: "You're all the same when you're in the gym... people talk to each other in between sets, so it forces people into communities."

The gym secured an asset of community value status from Wandsworth Council this year, meaning the community would have six months to submit its own bid to buy the venue if Places for London decided to sell.

Although the victory highlighted the gym's importance in the local community, Quinn said it is still battling the proposed rent increase, adding that the base rent on which the increase would be applied is already unaffordable for independent businesses.

The gym's website adds: "Many current members have family connections to the gym stretching back decades.

"Preserving this space means preserving a living piece of local heritage, not as a museum, but as a working, active community asset that continues to serve the public."

A Places for London spokesperson said: "We hugely value the contribution made by small and medium size businesses on our estate. They are an important part of London's stations, streets and more, and our tenants, such as Physical Culture, make a positive difference to our customers and their communities

"Our aim is to make sure we provide high-quality spaces for businesses at a reasonable market rate. We have proposed a rent increase of only RPI+1 per cent for Physical Culture. We know that there [are] many challenges facing small and medium businesses across London, and we have met with the team at Physical Culture and offered to find ways to support them and their businesses.

"We recognise Physical Culture's history and contributions, and are working closely with them and the Greater London Authority to ensure it continues to be financially viable and ensure the gym can continue to run for many years to come."

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