TWO major global businesses have been rumoured to be opening up in the former Next store in Winchester High Street - however both are keeping their plans firmly under wraps.

Builders moved into the unit, under the Travelodge, to split it into two last month.

The hoarding has been removed and workers are carrying out renovations inside.

Gym operator F45 Training and restaurant German Doner Kebab are rumoured to be lined up to occupy the units.

READ MORE: Former Next unit in Winchester to be split in half

German Doner Kebab, which recently opened a new store in Portsmouth, refused to confirm its interest.

The chain has seen growth in the past few years. It opened its first store in Berlin in 1989 and launched in the UK in 2016. It now has more than 100 restaurants throughout the UK, Europe, North America and the Middle East.

The chain, which also has a popular restaurant in Basingstoke, specialises in ‘game-changing gourmet kebabs’, according to its website.

The company, which is owned by the Hero Brands group, announced plans to open 78 new sites in 2022 earlier this year.

F45 Training is a global fitness community that specialises in innovative, high-intensity group workouts that are 'fast, fun, and results-driven'.

The American company is rapidly expanding across the United States, and has a rapidly growing franchise of over 1,900 specialist fitness centres across the world.

SEE ALSO: Next in Winchester is set to close

It is considered to be one of the world’s fastest growing franchises, and also boasts its own cult celebrity following which includes Mark Wahlberg, Liam Payne, Olly Murs, Nicole Richie, Millie Mackintosh and Cindy Crawford.

However a spokesperson from F45 Training HQ would not confirm the business intention to move to Winchester.

They said: "Unfortunately, I'm not able to share that information for confidentiality reasons.

"When a studio is close to opening, they will be listed on the F45 website with the studio contact details."

Next closed its retail store in Winchester in June 2017 and the unit was originally lined up to become a Lounges restaurant, which operates the Cosy Club chain, however the pandemic struck and plans were put on hold and then withdrawn.

It has been empty since Next departed.

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