A new 30,000 square foot fitness facility, XF Gym, has officially opened its doors in Liverpool's St Johns Shopping Centre. The gym occupies the large retail space formerly held by Wilko and began welcoming members on Monday, September 22, from 4 pm.
The opening marks a significant addition to the city centre's wellness and leisure offerings, repurposing a prominent vacant unit into a modern health club complete with specialised training zones, a sauna, and a smoothie bar.
Key Takeaways
- New Gym Opening: XF Gym has launched a 30,000 sq ft facility in Liverpool's St Johns Shopping Centre.
- Location: The gym is located in the large unit previously occupied by the Wilko store.
- Specialised Facilities: Features include a dedicated Hyrox training zone, a women-only workout space, saunas, and a smoothie bar.
- Economic Impact: The new business repurposes a major vacant retail space, aiming to draw on the shopping centre's high footfall of over one million visitors per month.
Major Fitness Brand Arrives at St Johns
XF Gym has completed its move into the heart of Liverpool after signing a lease with St Johns Shopping Centre owners, RivingtonHark, earlier this year. The company has invested in transforming the former retail space into a comprehensive fitness hub.
The facility's opening is a key development for the shopping centre, which is diversifying its tenant mix to include more leisure and experience-based businesses alongside traditional retail. The gym's central location is expected to attract a wide range of users, including city residents, local workers, and shoppers.
Repurposing Prime Retail Space
The closure of Wilko stores across the UK in 2023 left many large, high-profile retail units vacant. The arrival of XF Gym in the former St Johns site is an example of how landlords are adapting to changes in the high street by introducing non-retail tenants to maintain footfall and vitality in shopping centres.
Neil Ashcroft, the centre director at St Johns Shopping Centre, commented on the new arrival. He highlighted the centre's strategic advantages for a business like XF Gym.
"With an unbeatable location, over one million visitors per month and a broad mix of retailers and leisure offerings, St Johns Shopping Centre is the perfect home for growing, innovative businesses like XF Gym," Ashcroft stated.
He added, "We share their sense of community, and I am sure Liverpool’s residents, shoppers and workers will love the new gym experience they offer.”
Inside the New Fitness and Wellness Hub
The 30,000 sq ft space has been designed to cater to a variety of fitness preferences and includes several distinct zones. The main gym floor features an open-plan layout with extensive weights and cardio equipment.
In addition to the main workout area, the facility provides several specialised spaces. A key feature is a dedicated Hyrox zone, catering to the growing popularity of the global fitness race that combines running with functional workout stations. This makes it one of the few gyms in the city centre with a purpose-built area for this type of training.
What is Hyrox?
Hyrox is a competitive fitness event that involves a 1km run followed by a functional workout station, repeated eight times. The dedicated zone at XF Gym allows members to train specifically for these events, which have seen a surge in participation worldwide.
Specialised Amenities and Classes
XF Gym has also incorporated features aimed at creating a more inclusive and comprehensive wellness experience. These include:
- A women-only workout space, providing a private and comfortable area for female members.
- Group exercise studios offering a timetable of classes such as yoga, high-intensity interval training (HIIT), boxing, dance, and cycling.
- Modern changing facilities equipped with saunas for post-workout recovery.
- An on-site shop selling fitness supplements like protein and creatine.
- A smoothie bar offering fresh drinks for pre- or post-training nutrition.
These amenities position the gym not just as a place for exercise but as a broader wellness destination within the city centre.
XF Gym's Ambition for Liverpool
The launch in Liverpool is part of a wider expansion for the XF Gyms brand. The company's CEO, Laurence Benson, explained the decision to open in the city, citing a connection with Liverpool's character.
"XF Gym is thrilled to bring its unique fitness experience to the heart of Liverpool - a city built on ambition, resilience, and unbreakable community spirit—values that define XF Gym," Benson said.
He emphasised the strategic importance of the St Johns location in making high-quality fitness accessible to more people. "With its central location and excellent connections, we’re making world-class training facilities, market-leading wellness spaces, and a supportive community more accessible than ever," he added.
Benson also framed the gym's mission as being more than just providing equipment. He described the brand as a "movement" focused on member success.
"XF Gym isn’t just a place to train—we are a movement. And we can’t wait to help every member thrive,” he concluded. This community-focused approach will be central to the gym's operations as it establishes itself in Liverpool's competitive fitness market.