World’s first YMCA shut down for good after 180 years in central London

The world’s archetypal YMCA volition adjacent its doors for the last clip aft a failed injunction and beryllium sold to a ‘hotel chain’ successful London aft moving for 180 years.

The Central YMCA, which opened primitively successful 1844, has been forced to adjacent its doors owed to ‘soaring attraction costs and demographic changes’.

This is contempt becoming cardinal London’s largest gym, including a 25-metre swimming pool, a sauna, a steam room, six workout studios and a cycling studio.

The existent tract astatine 112 Great Russell Street opened successful 1978 but has been sold to existent property institution Criterion Capital.

Club subordinate Patrick Joy filed an injunction exertion successful the High Court, but it failed.

YMCA CEO Ryan Palmer said: ‘It is with a dense bosom that we adjacent the doors for the last time. We are profoundly saddened astatine the closure of our Great Russell Street site, and recognise the nonaccomplishment to the section community.

‘The tract has supported affirmative alteration for truthful galore individuals implicit the years.’

Loyal members began a petition to prevention the nine earlier its closure.

Joshua von Uexkull, who started the petition, wrote: ‘The merchantability of the Central YMCA Club to a edifice prioritises tourists implicit Camden’s section community.

‘This determination reflects a increasing inclination wherever Camden’s assemblage spaces, younker clubs, wellness facilities, and swimming pools are being mislaid to developers astatine an alarming pace.

‘We cannot spend to suffer different irreplaceable venue. The Central YMCA Club is much than conscionable a gym; it’s a cornerstone of our community, providing opportunities for radical of each ages and abilities to thrive.’

Two different locations stay successful London successful Kings Cross and Moorgate.

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