From a garage in Solihull to Regent Street, the global fitness brand is taking over London

Solihull-based Gymshark, which was founded by Ben Francis in a house garage in 2012, has opened its first flagship store on flashy Regent Street in London. After a months delay, on 29 October, the space was opened to the public and provided fans with weekend-long celebrations.  

Francis said: “I keep having to pinch myself that we’re going to have a flagship store on one of the most prestigious streets in the world.” 

For two days, the retailer’s fans were able to, for the first time, experience “the essence” of Gymshark and finally after years of waiting, shop IRL.  

Here’s what they had to offer over the weekend: 

Exclusive screen printing – all you needed to do was purchase one of the limited edition £25 t-shirts and bring it over to the Screen Printing Station and voilà, a limited, one-of-a-kind t-shirt was yours.  

Athlete takeover in the Sweat Room & the Pro Bench – Gymshark team has brought along athletes to lead the classes, work out and meet the people, and quite literally put on a show, bringing together the fitness community. 

Joe & The Juice – the healthy juice and snack specialists were available at the store opening, but the good news is they are there to STAY. Anyone visiting was able to try juices, snacks, healthy shakes and more. 

Here’s what people thought about it:

Lauren – ‘When we got in, all the athletes were there, and very welcoming. I’m definitely going to come back, we wanted to use some facilities for some classes but they were fully booked when I looked, so we will definitely come back another time. I did get some new leggings, a t-shirt, jacket and we got free t-shirts because we got here early’.  

Sabina and Josie – ‘We printed a t-shirt of course and got some free energy drinks and a chocolate protein drink. We had a really good day, haha. We came to London on vacation, but next time, next time we’re in London we will be back and we will make use of the facilities. Until then we will order online or have to do a shop in Germany, haha’.  

Connie and Chris – ‘We didn’t get any free stuff apart from the drinks while waiting in the queue, I also got one of the custom t-shirts where you can print yourself and some shorts from the new collection. I’m gonna come back and take a few classes for sure, it’s a great space’.  

If, however you have missed out on the opening weekend festivities, do not worry! Gymshark is not just another store, it is an 18,000 sq ft community space, and, after a successful launch, here is what you can find inside: 

Sweat Room 

Over 30 bookable classes every week, the Sweat Room will host a large range of exercise classes that include: fitness yoga, strength, and of course HIIT. The classes will be led by experienced Pros and PTs from the Gymshark team. The selection and timetable of classes will change weekly.  

Apart from the classes that will be available to book through the app, the space also holds gym facilities. Anyone interested will have access to a gender-neutral Locker Room, located right by the Sweat Room, inside you will find showers, towels, changing facilities as well as lockers.  

Pro Bench 

1-2-1, free sessions led by the Gymshark Pros, for anyone wanting to improve their form or needing a little push and advice before starting.  

Gymshark Pros are highly qualified, fitness experts trained in different disciplines – mindset, recovery, personal training, CrossFit, yoga, pilates, bodybuilding, rugby and more.  

The sessions last for approximately 25 minutes and take place in a private space for your comfort.  

Joe & The Juice 

Joe & The Juice are joining Gymshark exclusively at their store at Regent Street. The healthy juice and snack specialists are offering sandwiches full of protein, healthy shakes, and fresh juices.  

No energy? No problem. Grab a healthy shake before your class in the Sweat Room or a sandwich before your gym session, later unwind and relax with a fresh post-workout juice at the seating area.  

The Hub 

The Hub, located on the first floor overlooking the busy yet iconic Regent Street, is an open-plan multi-use space. Not just another shop, Gymshark at Regent Street is a “home for the community”.  

The Hub is a great space for inspiring talks, athlete meet and greets, events, guest speakers, and anyone working from “home”. 

Keep an eye out on Gymshark’s social media platforms for more details on any upcoming events at The Hub. 

1-2-1 Shopping 

The retailer is introducing personal stylers; the 1-2-1 shopping team are here to provide a personal shopping experience and give you VIP treatment.  

You can come alone, or bring people along with you for the 90-minute session that will be all about you. It gets even better, the 1-2-1 shopping is also available virtually! You can shop at Gymshark Regent Street from the comfort of your home, with an expert from the team on hand to assist you.  

Location: 

Gymshark London, 165 Regent Street, London, W1S 3BE 

Opening hours: 

Monday: 10 am-8 pm 

Tuesday: 10 am-8 pm 

Wednesday: 10 am-8 pm 

Thursday: 10 am-8 pm 

Friday: 10 am-8 pm 

Saturday: 10 am-8 pm 

Sunday: 12 pm-6 pm 
 

Words: Aleksandra Martynow | Subbing: Istvan Botond Beres

Images: Aleksandra Martynow | Information: central.gymshark.com