Beechdown gym implements social distancing measures ahead of reopening

They've all been implemented by Beechdown Health and Fitness, in Brighton Hill, who are one of the many leisure facilities up and down the country that are reopening their doors today.

In addition to indoor gyms, swimming pools and leisure centres will be able to open, as long as they abide by hygiene and social distancing restrictions.

And at Beechdown, they've been working non-stop since they were told to close in preparation for today.

Managing Director, Ian Minors, and his committed team have rearranged their facilities, moving some gym equipment into one of their squash courts and utilising their outdoor space.

They were able to reopen their outdoor activities, which include classes, a running track, tennis courts and their "alfresco gym", at the start of the month.

Speaking to The Gazette, Ian said that their initial hygiene measures, implemented in February before the lockdown as coronavirus swept across Europe, has helped them to be ready for the measures being implemented on reopening.

"What made it easier for us was that we didn’t stop working," he said. "If we had said that we are going home and read books until the government say we can open again that would have been a challenge.

"From the word go we said we were going to be open again shortly. When we opened we wanted to be ahead of the game.

"I was listening to Chris Whitty [Chief Medical Officer] and he said that whatever we do outside is going to be safer than indoors.

"We developed this alfresco gym so people would feel comfortable. We opened this as a standalone. It took a couple of days for people to work out what was happening. Since then we have a whole offering of outdoors activities."

And whilst many businesses, including pubs and restaurants, may be seeing less customers because they're forced to socially distance their tables, using outdoor spaces actually means that Beechdown are using 25 per cent more equipment.

Weather permitting, they are hoping to run their outdoor programme until October, when they will reassess to see how they can adapt it into the winter months.

"We are absolutely thrilled about it," Ian says about his reopening day. "It has been the day we have been waiting for since March 20.

"It is meant to be the first day of the school holidays but there was a queue at 7.45am.

"It was challenging [preparing for today]. There was only a few of us that have been working since March 20."

Ian, who lives in London and was managing the swimming pool from home during lockdown, trying to reduce the amount of chlorine wasted, says that the hardest part of the reopening process was interpreting the government guidance.

"The regulations say that for example swimmers need to be given three square metres of space which is never enough.

"It is not just a case of reading and planning for the regulations, you have got to say ‘is that sensible’?

"We do not want an outbreak here, we want members to know that they are safe. They want to come in here and relax."

And as well as the cleaning stations at every piece of equipment, hand sanitiser available everywhere and increased ventilation to minimise the risk of transmission of the virus, users are also required to book slots online, so that they can effectively manage the amount of people on site.

But all of these measures are appreciated by members, including Hoss Ashraf, from Beggarwood.

Hoss contracted coronavirus in February, and whilst he considers himself "lucky" that he only had mild symptoms, he says that it is good to be back at the gym.

"I am super happy to be back," he told The Gazette.

"I have kept training but haven't been to a gym since lockdown.

"I have never had so much sanitiser on my hands! It is definitely safe here, it is sensible."

To find out more or book a slot, go to https://www.beechdown.co.uk.