New images offer a sneak peek inside a hotly anticipated 24-hour gym in the outskirts of Herne Bay - as owners reveal its opening date has been pushed back.

Snap Fitness was due to welcome fitness fanatics this month. But the facility is now expected to open early in the new year.

Construction is underway at the site, beside Sainsbury’s in Broomfield’s Altira Business Park.

General manager Brigid Mansfield says the building work can be turned around in about six weeks and she hopes the gym will be ready to open its doors sometime in January.

But because builders will be working seasonal hours over Christmas, the date for its completion is “unclear”.

Proposals to open the business in the 1,000 sq m building were given the go-ahead in March.

The site will be leased out by Sainsbury’s to the US firm Snap Fitness, which has about 70 similar centres in the UK.

Ms Mansfield, 33, said: “With the Herne Bay people, there has been a lot of misunderstanding with the business itself. They think it is an American corporate, but it is a franchise run by a family.

“They have branches in the Isle of Wight and Dartford and they have really hit it off.

“They saw in Herne Bay a place was up for rent near Sainsbury’s, which is a really up-and-coming area.

“I am currently getting feedback from everyone, like what classes they would like to see. I have taken on three personal trainers already.”

She says she has already received almost 2,000 inquiries about the gym, from potential customers.

New computer-generated images of the premises show a swish and spacious interior, featuring a red-and-grey colour scheme with televisions and motivational messages on the walls.

The 24-hour facility will contain a training area and a room for free-weights exercises, as well as “luxurious bathrooms”. It will also have a “boutique” training area - kitted out with a sled track, battle ropes, core bags and “plyo” boxes.

What do you think? Email hernebaygazette@thekmgroup.co.uk.

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