You might have noticed that the Falcon Road/Lavender Hill branch of Fitness First abruptly and definitively closed 10 days ago. All 1200 members who subscribed to the gym at this branch received an email informing them about the closure.

Fitness First staff told us that the initial plan was to completely refurbish the gym within the building before continuing its operation. However, prior to investing in the refurbishment, they aimed to secure a new lease as it was expiring this month. Regrettably, an agreement on the renewal terms couldn’t be reached between the landlord and the owners.

A company has since removed all the gym equipment, leaving behind only basic furniture like desks and rugs within the premises. Although the sign says that they are moving out “temporarily” they told us it was definitive.

According to Fitness First, the branch members have been relocated to neighboring branches, with a significant portion transferring to the Clapham Junction gym, merely 200 meters away in the station shopping centre. Others have opted to attend different branches.

Until recently, Fitness First Lavender Hill occupied the first floor of the imposing four-story block located at the corner of Falcon Road, Mossbury Road, and Lavender Hill, with an address at 276-288 Lavender Hill. Currently, the ground floor and basement are occupied by a Wetherspoon pub, which took over the premises from the Revolution bar in January 2021.

J D Wetherspoon PLC  actually bought the freehold in 2013 for £5,500,000, but continued leasing it to Inventive Leisure Limited, the operator of the Revolution bar until 2021. With Fitness First’s lease expiring this month, it’s highly probable that Wetherspoon, accustomed to owning their premises, saw this as an opportunity to either expand or alter the building’s layout.

There still remains a multitude of other gym facilities in close proximity to Clapham Junction station. As we mentioned above, immediately adjacent to the station an opposite to The Grand you have another FitnessFirst. On Falcon Road you can get to Energie Fitness and on Grant road you have the home of CrossFit Shapesmiths in London. On St John’s hill you will find F45. And next year, ThirdSpace, a luxury gym with a £300 monthly membership will open in Arding Hobbs. All of that with the addition of the free equipment available in Clapham Common. Therefore, still a massive choice, for all budgets!