A NEW 24 hour gym is on the cards for a former nightclub in Old Town.

What was once the home of Rehab and later restaurant Asiana in Hoopers Place has been taken over by national fitness chain Anytime Gym and franchisee Mike Racz of Gym Factory Swindon Ltd.

The unit has remained empty for quite some time and the windows are painted white, while inside remains empty except for some scaffolding.

But this month, plans were approved to transform the unit which will be set over two floors with an additional second floor mezzanine. 

The gym, next to Subway and behind the new Tree nightclub and Rendezvous restaurant, is also set to employ eight full-time staff and will be open 24 hours a day and seven days a week.

In the planning application it states: “The gym would provide employment for up to eight members of staff, including a full time manager.

“The gym will be staffed between the hours of 10am and 9pm during the week and between the hours of 10am and 4pm on weekends.

“Gym members would use a security-access key fob to enter the club at all times, even when it is not staffed.”

And it adds: “Including a new gym in Hoopers Place will improve the diversity of amenities of the area, thereby enhancing the vitality of the centre, and increasing the services available to nearby residents.

“Some of the key crime prevention measures include the installation of closed-circuit television (CCTV) which will be remotely monitored in all areas of the club via a system that will have audio and visual access to the facility.”

The unit also forms part of the former Belmont Brewery which has seen new life breathed into it with the recent opening of Tree Nightclub and Rendezvous restaurant two weeks ago. The launch night, as well as this bank holiday weekend, attracted hundreds of revellers.

An official date for when Anytime Gym will open or when work will begin has yet to be revealed.

However, a Facebook page is promising the new facility will offer 'industry leading equipment' and 'top quality classes' and will be opening at the beginning of November.