A popular gym in Sneinton has relocated to Arnold just months after investing in renovations. H3 Gym, on the corner of Aberdeen street, has moved to Gedling Road in Arnold, on a site it shares with a 5-a-side football centre.
Owner Jez Kearney opened the gym on Parliament Street in 1983 and will be marking the 40th anniversary of H3 this year. Although the gym has had many different locations including Victoria Centre throughout the years, Sneinton has been its home since 2012.
Following the lockdown, H3 was given a new look including a striking neon green paint job on the exterior, but the decision was made to close less than a year later.
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Ongoing issues surrounding parking have created a problem for businesses in the area and have contributed to the decision to relocate the gym in Arnold. There are very few spaces in Sneinton where people can park and most require a ticket.
There is parking nearby including a small fifty-vehicle capacity car park on Aberdeen Street as well as nearby Curzon and Brook Street. Parking is free for up to one hour on Aberdeen Street but it is often busy as it is used by the nearby shops and businesses.
"We opened the Sneinton site in 2012 and we relocated to Arnold because there are a lot of issues with town, like parking. This has been a great site and we have fantastic members as we are a community club," Jez said.
"I want to keep this gym going and be able to celebrate 40 years of being in the business with a massive party. When we were in Victoria Centre, we had a massive 30,000 square foot facility and we realised we couldn't train everyone so we had this place where could train people and get to know them."
He added: "We know everyone's name here as its a community and we are like family. Back in 1983, we tried to replace this on a massive scale which does work but it's harder as we had 3,500 members. If you have 400 members then you know everyone's name and it's not about making money but having something sustainable that is enjoyable."
While Nottingham has changed a lot in the past ten years, Sneinton Market has had a lot of growth in a relatively short space of time. The market and Avenues are thriving with new independent businesses, restaurants and pubs.
The area has also shed a lot of the old reputation for anti-social behaviour but there are still some issues. Jez says he will still return to the Sneinton market but socially rather than as a gym owner.
H3 is known for its training which attracts gym fans from all over Nottingham, including cities further afield such as Loughborough or Milton Keynes. It has a loyal following of clients that have moved with the gym over the years since the early days of the community gym. The ample, free parking at the new location was a huge draw when choosing where to locate it.
"The biggest thing that people moaned about was the parking because there wasn't anything. We've moved three miles away which to me, if you value it then it's not that much further to come. I would love for everyone to come and give us a go. We've had people come here and join in which has been lovely," Jez said.
When it comes to the future of the gym, Jez has a lot of plans for the new H3.
"Arnold Hill Academy had this big space that they were using so at the moment, they have a five-a-side football operator in there which is a big operation. We do sessions in the morning from 6 am to 8 am then we start back in the afternoon from 5 pm until 9 pm with weekends which works well for us," Jez explained.
He added: "There is loads of parking and its really safe. In the Spring, we have the space to do outdoor training and gyms so the scope is there to do a lot more in a safe environment which is really lovely. Members who have been said they really love it."
*Nottingham Post contacted Nottingham City Council for comment.
