Gym franchise Anytime Fitness will open a 7,500sq ft (697sq m) club in Flemingate shopping complex in Beverley, East Yorkshire – its first in the area.

Members will benefit from 24/7 access to the club, as well as capped membership numbers and an investment of more than £500,000 (US$627,000; €585,000) in fit-out and gym equipment. 

Anytime Fitness will be working with Flemingate, which is owned by the Wykeland Group, to use its outdoor public space for exercise classes and group activities in the spring and summer. 

 The first-floor unit, which will be close to retailers Debenhams and Outfit, is due to open in May.

 Franchise owner, Neel Sodha, said: “Flemingate fits the Anytime Fitness model to a tee. It’s a great location, with a large 24-hour car park on site, the rail station just two minutes’ walk away and bus station close by. Beverley is also a large and affluent community with lots of professional people and students who are all concerned about looking after their health and wellbeing.”

 David Donkin, Wykeland Group property director, said: “Anytime Fitness adds yet another element to the leisure mix at Flemingate. It enhances the daytime and evening offer and is unique proposition to Beverley and the surrounding area, which will benefit the local community all year round.

 “The brand will draw footfall to the centre, which will be great for the retail and leisure outlets, and the fitness club will also benefit from access to the 800 people who now work at Flemingate.”

 Superdrug, Outfit, River Island and Starbucks, among others, have opened in Flemingate in the past few months.

Anytime Fitness has 114 franchises in the UK.