Fitness enthusiasts were queuing at the door as Jetts 24/7 Fitness opened at 9am on Monday, August 11, in Chineham Shopping Centre.
Owner Vishnu Kiran Nayar, 29, explained that eager gym-goers were lining up to get in on what was a “pretty busy” morning.
Hatch Warren-based Vishnu, who is born and bred in Basingstoke and of Malaysian heritage, is a former IFBB Champion bodybuilder, who has won numerous international accolades and has been a professional fitness model for close to a decade.
Vishnu in action (Image: Newsquest)
He explained that his experience helped him to curate the gym to meet his needs and, in turn, the needs of members.
Vishnu said: “I was one of Basingstoke’s first bodybuilding competitors. I’ve been a professional since 2018.
“So I thought, ‘Why not bring something here for that?’ Fast-forward 10 years after I started, there are a lot more fitness enthusiasts and bodybuilders around, or people who want to get into it. So I thought, ‘No other place has that, so bring it here.’
“What I’ve tried to do is fill that void that I feel has been unfilled for many years. We’ve got things like the pendulum squat and the lying chest press machine. We work with different brands like Gym80, which nobody else has worked with.
“The long-term vision for the gym is just to build a community here, where everybody feels at home and safe, and they can come out and have a great workout.
“It’s for everyone. We’ve got a class area, we’ve got a strength and conditioning area for HYROX hybrid athletes.”
Vishnu explained that he believes the location is a prime spot to attract members.
He said: “Once I found out there could be something here at the old Iceland, I was just like, ‘Wow,’ because it’s near the Tesco, so footfall-wise would be great here and we can get seen more and because I know I’m bringing a great gym, you want it to be seen.”
We’re running a free sale, if you sign up, whatever price you start with is what you’ll maintain for the entirety of your membership duration. We don’t have lock-in contracts yet, just a month’s notice. And you’re able to use any Jetts club, in the UK and around the world with your membership, no extra cost.”
Vishnu added: “I just want to see everybody with a smile on their face and enjoy their time when they come here.”
To find out more, visit the Jetts website https://jetts.co.uk/gyms/jetts-basingstoke/.
The gym offers personal training, screen and instructor-led classes, pin-loaded equipment, Olympic lifting platforms, shower rooms, a dedicated stretching zone, a free weights zone, plate-loaded equipment, a sled and sprint track, a functional training zone and a cardio zone.
Jetts is the third business to open at Chineham Shopping Centre in 2025, after estate agents Brockenhurst and health and beauty store Savers opened earlier this year.