Manchester’s “most innovative gym” prepares to launch – with its own running track and climbing wall

Prepare for a new breed of gym in Manchester – with the launch of innovative new health club GSquared in early 2021.

Just in time for those new year health kicks, acclaimed personal trainer and CEO Andy McGlynn has created the GSquared Health Club with plans to shake up the fitness industry in an extraordinary space in the vaults of the Royal Exchange Arcade, right in the heart of the city centre on St Ann’s Square.

The health club is promising a next-level fitness concept coupled with luxurious interiors – with 12,000 sq ft of innovative training space including a running track, a 20-metre sled track, CV garden, performance room, assault course with monkey bars and cargo net as well as a climbing wall – a first for a gym in Manchester.

And with a concierge service like a five star hotel they’ll even wash your gym kit!

The GSquared concept aims to shake up the traditional fitness industry by focusing on all aspects of members’ health – not just the physical side, but also the holistic side – with the ambition to provide a sanctuary to restore, re-energise and revive for members.

It will offer luxurious interior design and a nod to the elements of nature including a contemporary waterfall on entry and aquarium, while the flexible studio space is atmospherically lit to raise energy in the high intensity areas and add a sense of calm for the holistic studio sessions.

There will also be dedicated “sleep pods” to escape for some calm or even a power nap.

Exclusive membership options are available now in three tiers – executive, platinum and platinum plus, starting from £95 a month.

You can gain access to GSquared Health Club at Royal Exchange Arcade through its own gym doors, or via the adjoining The Remedy Kitchen – the first and only free-from café concept in the city.

GSquared’s front of house, concierge team mirror that of a five-star hotel; helping guests with their every need, from reserving the on-site board room conference facility, to booking therapies in the GSquared treatment rooms – including sports rehab massage, and arranging the in-house laundry service –  with members’ kits laundered and ready for their next visit.

The club’s private changing rooms come complete with infra-red single-sex sauna.

This next-level service continues in the form of the health club’s outstanding Personal Trainers, who have all gone through extensive testing and screening in GSquared’s 4-stage screening process, which is one of the toughest and most rigorous recruitment processes in the world for a Personal Trainer.

From Royal Marine Commando, to leading on the front line in the world of personal training and gyms, Andy McGlynn is passionate about creating a concept that’s not just a fitness facility, but a sanctuary to restore, re-energise and revive.

Andy was instrumental in introducing a successful PT culture across the UK and specifically to Manchester in the early 00s. Now, one of the most diversely qualified PTs in the world, Andy has been involved in some incredible transitions, which has given him an understanding and a level of experience that is second to none; backed up with an impressive CV of nutritional, sports and PT qualifications.

Commenting on the launch of GSquared Health Clubs launching in Manchester, he said: “I knew that Manchester had to be the first location for the first GSquared Health Club, which I believe is set to be a gamechanger for the fitness industry. We are shaking up the norm to become one of the world’s leading health club brands.

“It was an overwhelming passion and quest for perfection within a fitness facility, combined with the drive to push the standards of an industry that gave me the energy and awareness to build GSquared.

“It’s one thing to create a stunning fitness space, but we’ve added substance by ensuring innovation and high service standards are imperative to the brand.

“Taking all the learnings and experiences from the fitness industry as a whole, I wanted to create strengths from the recurring issues that often let members down.  For example, our new site is substantial enough in size to accommodate a club membership in excess of 3000 members, but it will actually be limited to 800, meaning that members will never have to wait for equipment – it will be a much better experience all round.

“We’ve also created a unique, 7-part, optional, introductory screening for members, known as ‘YouSquared’. It’s arguably one of the most in-depth, diverse, accurate, informative, educational and useful yet non- invasive member experiences of any gym in the world, and I take that statement seriously.”

GSquared’s 7-stage member introduction includes body composition analysis, spinal alignment, full health and wellbeing analysis and more for members. From here a bespoke training and fitness programme is created as a result of the analysis of the information; the more information retrieved, means the more accurate the plan, leading to a more efficient way of training.

Meanwhile a ground-breaking addition to the health club is the innovative COSMED’s BodPod machine, a body composition tool and an efficient form of body fat testing, which is used as part of the YouSquared induction.

The health clubs will also support the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) on a long-term basis with a seven-figure contribution each year, and every year. The subtle hint of nature within the health club, in the form of the aquarium, the CV garden and the added elements of water and stone, gives a gentle connection to nature and a reflection of Andy’s other passion.

Membership tiers available at GSquared Health Clubs include Executive at £95 per month, Platinum at £150 per month and Platinum Plus at £225 per month. Memberships are available in person only – and appointments in person or via VR can be made by contacting [email protected]  or by calling the membership team on 0161 669 4562.