An ‘anti-gym’ personal trainer has unveiled a plan to create an environmental fitness space on a beach.

Clint-Sanyika Odieté, who lives in Cliftonville, wants to transform an area of Walpole Bay into a wellbeing space, offering fitness training and classes, a juice bar and wellness talks.

The 42-year-old currently runs his Beach Fit UK sessions by Haeckels’ bathing machine sauna but has now revealed his vision for the “next level” which involves transforming his venture into a more defined space.

“I want to create an outside fitness space where the community can train and strengthen their physical and mental wellbeing,” he said.

“I’m anti-gym. They have become a place where getting fit is secondary.

“People go there to check in and take a selfie in their gym attire. People are not really there for the real essence of what it’s about and it really irks me when people say to me they find gyms intimidating. I get it.

“The beach is the biggest and best gym and it’s whatever you make it. No one controls it. There are no silly programmes on a flat screen on the wall.”

And he believes Walpole Bay is particularly magic.

“You’ve got the beach, the bathing machine, the tidal pool – it’s got a real strong, organic, environmental leisure centre feel,” he said.

“This fitness space isn’t a Fitness First or Bannatyne. It’s like the Venice Beach of Margate.”

His plan is for a 40ft container on the promenade with Olympic-standard equipment and sessions running on the prom and the sand.

“I’ll have three to four sessions going on, there will be loads of different classes and kids' activities,” he said.

“It will be an area where people will get motivated and feel positive vibes.

“There will be a juice bar and some seating while people have their drinks. It will also be an education space and I’ll be inviting people in mental health to do talks.

“It will be an all-encompassing wellbeing space with a focus on education, nutrition and wellness.”

He says when he moved to the area last year from London he felt like “the new kid at school” and didn’t know anyone.

“I’d never felt that before and it was really humbling, I had to really test my social skills,” he said.

“I would go down to Walpole and shadow box and train and one by one people would come and ask me if I was a personal trainer and would I train them. It really snowballed.

“I now know every dog walker, every swimmer, every parent pushing a pram.

“Margate is a beacon of social togetherness and I want this new space to inspire and motivate others.”

Some £1 million from the government’s Town Deal funding is to be pumped into regenerating Walpole Bay including refurbishing the tidal pool and Grade II-listed lift and rotunda and Mr Odieté says he hopes his plan can benefit from the boost.

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