The DW Fitness First gym in Bangor will reopen on Monday 10 August, despite DW Sports, which operates fitness clothing stores as well as a number of gyms across the country, announcing it had entered administration on Monday, 3 August.
The company said all of its retail stores would close down for good, but stressed that Fitness First, a sister company of DW, would continue to operate as a separate company.
The company, founded by former Wigan Athletic owner Dave Whelan, operated 73 gyms and 75 stores across the UK.
Chief Executive Martin Long said: “As a consequence of Covid-19, we found ourselves in a position where we were mandated by government to close down both our retail store portfolio and our gym chain in its entirety for a protracted period, leaving us with a high fixed-cost base and zero income.
“The decision to appoint administrators has not been taken lightly but will give us the best chance to protect viable parts of the business, return them to profitability, and secure as many jobs as possible.”
‘Closing down sales’
DW Sports had already closed 25 of its stores, and the firm said its remaining 50 retail sites would all be moving into closing down sales from last Monday.
The DW Sports website ceased trading last week with immediate effect.
