The opening marks the next chapter for a long‑running fitness community.
The Evo Project is replacing Evolution, which has been a staple of local fitness for the past decade.
Over the years, regulars trained together, supported each other through personal challenges, and built long-standing friendships, creating what owners say became “more of a family than a fitness centre.”
The Evo Project aims to build on that foundation while giving the expanding community the space it needs to grow. The new site is designed as a long-term home for existing members and a welcoming environment for newcomers.
The former Wilko building has undergone a significant transformation, with organisers saying the larger layout allows for better facilities, more flexibility and a mix of independent training and coached sessions, all while retaining the personal feel members valued at Evolution.
A basic membership will include independent gym access along with 20 hours of studio classes per week. Personal Training and other coached sessions will be available as bolt-ons, giving members the freedom to train in the way that suits them while remaining part of the wider Evo community.
The facility will also offer Reformer Pilates as a separate membership. Based within the same building but operating independently, the Pilates studio is aimed at both existing gym-goers and residents who may be new to exercise or returning after time away.
Owner Jimmy Hayns said the opening marks the next step in the gym’s evolution.
He said: “After 10 years of Evolution, I’m proud to be opening a gym that gives people who genuinely want to train the proper space to do it. We’ve always focused on building a place where people feel comfortable, supported and part of something, and The Evo Project allows us to do that without compromise. It’s not about chasing trends or opening the biggest gym possible — it’s about creating a space where our community can keep showing up, training well and growing together.”
He added that the move comes simply because the original site could no longer accommodate the size of the community without affecting the experience members valued. The new facility has been designed to allow continued growth while maintaining the identity that made Evolution successful.
Local interest has been strong throughout the refurbishment, with passers-by frequently stopping to look through the windows and ask about the project. Alongside the new gym and Pilates studio, plans are already in place for a premium recovery centre, coffee shop and kitchen, which will allow the business to expand into fitness events, shared working spaces and other future ventures.
The Evo Project is now officially open, and people are being invited to try the facility for themselves.
Free day passes are available until the end of February.