A TOWN CENTRE gym has committed to staying where it is despite an exodus of shops around it. 

The CEO of the Buzz Gym in the Brunel Shopping Centre says that he was offered the opportunity to relocate elsewhere - like many other businesses on that side of the shopping venue - but opted to stay put. 

He added that there are ten years left on the lease for the site, and is now even investing £150,000 because he 'believes in Swindon town centre'. 

Adam Stowell, CEO of the independent gym chain, said: "There has been and there is a lot of negative talk around the town centre, and obviously the Brunel Shopping Centre is going through a period of reorganising the section of the mall where we are. 

"But despite everyone else moving out we have no intention of going anywhere."

Alex said that since the closure of Kiss Gyms nearby he has already seen an influx of new customers, but going forward he strongly believes that Swindon town centre's fortunes will improve. 

"When we first moved into the Swindon town centre building, it was probably at a 6 out of ten for where it should be, given the location and the size of the town. We were hoping this would get to a 7 or an 8 but it has gone the other way in recent years. 

"But all of the ingredients are there for Swindon to have a strong town centre with the transport links and more and more people moving here, so it's important that businesses there make a statement of intent and reinvest in their units there."

Swindon Advertiser: Inside Buzz GymInside Buzz Gym (Image: Buzz Gym)

Builders will be moving in next week to start the refurbishment that will see new paint and lighting as well as the addition of several new exercise areas. 

The free weights area is being extended, a new Hyrox training zone is being added and there will be a redone class timetable and a boxing area installed too. 

In total, it will cost £150,000 and it is hoped it will be completed by early January with a tentative date of January 4.

"It is quite an exciting time for the club and the town centre – we've had various discussions with Brunel and have heard a few rumours that we were going to move our location,

"But that didn’t really stack up for us, we're happy with the unit we’re in from our point of view and that's why this big refurb is going on."