A popular health and fitness club which announced it was closing permanently due to the financial strains of the pandemic is to reopen.

Waterfront Leisure Centre at Gillingham Marina is to open for business again on November 1 after being taken over by new owners.

The complex, which includes a pool, gym with views over the River Medway, squash and badminton courts, a spin and dance room, is currently undergoing a makeover.

As general manager Ashley Martin explained: " The centre is 20 years old and has been closed for some time. So a lot of the work is mechanical and electrical, general maintenance."

He said "a six figure sum plus" is being spent on refurbishment which started a month ago.

Ashley plans to oversee a series of open days prior to the official launch and said he has already been inundated with messages from former members who want to rejoin as well as new people who want to enrol.

He said: "The feedback has been phenomenal. We've had 100 inquiries in a week and that's without really advertising.

"The general feeling we are getting is that people want somewhere to relax and enjoy."

Waterfront along with the adjoining marina has been taken over by husband and wife team Gary and Rita Beckwith who previously ran City Cruises, a sightseeing river excursion business on the River Thames in London.

The 19-acres site, which has been in the hands of the Parham family for 30 years, was bought for an undisclosed sum.

Ashley, 55, worked for British Airways as cabin crew and in catering for 10 years before taking a job with the Beckwith's.

He said : "I have known them for 30 years. They are family orientated with family ethics. The ideas is to make this a community hub for berth holders and leisure club users together.

"We have plans but we want to see what works for people. We want to make it affordablde, but at the same time we are running a business.

Ashley, a father-of- two, who lives in Sussex, enjoys sport when he is not working. He plays squash, badminton, cycles and is a former volleyball champion.

To register your interest for membership click here.

The Beckwith's have bought the two basins which have a capacity for up to 490 boats, along with a range of marina facilities which include workshops, a boat yard, chandlery, children's playground and helicopter landing pad.

They also operated water-based excursions in Poole, Dorset and in York.

Terry Gabriel, managing director of Gillingham Marina Ltd has written to berth holders saying: "The reason for the purchase and long-term goal of the directors to improve the site as a whole but particularly, the marina area within the complex.

"We believe there is scope to develop the site to offer an improved experience for berth holders.

"Going forward you will slowly see alterations in areas within the site which we trust will reflect in a positive way for you all."