Ian Quayle and Jason Blundred have created a memorial for the gym’s founder
Ian Quayle (left) and business partner Jason Bundred pictured with memorial of Powerhouse Gym founder Phil Simic(Image: Pete Stonier)
Two new owners have stepped in to restore Powerhouse Gym ‘back to its glory days’. Ian Quayle, 42, and Jason Blundred, 35, took over the bodybuilding fitness centre on December 24.
The pair say they have both been attending the gym for over 20 years – back when it was still ran by legendary founder Phil Simic. Port Vale fan Phil ran the Powerhouse Gym, in Sandyford, for 35 years until his death in 2019.
Now Ian and Jason have sworn to ‘make Phil proud’.
Ian, of Cross Heath, told StokeonTrentLive: “I knew Phil, the founder of the gym, for years. I first came into Powerhouse to train with my Dad when I was 16.
“So I actually remember what the gym was like in its original days. That’s why Phil actually asked me to buy the place before he died.
“But I didn’t have enough money at the time so I had to turn him down. What mattered to everyone was keeping the place going and that no matter who owned it, it would always be called the Powerhouse.
“Eventually a guy called Nick ended up buying it from Phil’s wife after he passed away. Me and Nick became good friends while I was training there.
“So when Nick decided he wanted to sell up after a few years, I was the first person he came to because he knew that I had wanted to buy it before.
Inside Powerhouse Gym, in Sandyford(Image: Pete Stonier)
“Jason also used to train here with his old man too. We got talking as we trained there over the years and became good friends ourselves.
“As soon as I mentioned to him about Nick wanting to sell the place, he sat down with me and asked if I reckoned we should go for it. It all came together very quickly.
“The place has deep ties with me. I have memories of training there with my Dad and Phil and I know it’s the same story for everyone else who goes too.
“It’s a well-known gym with lots of memories for lots of people. It’s not really a money-maker. Me and Jason still have to work full-time. But we couldn’t bear to see it shut.”
Ian and Jason say they are determined to get the gym back to its bodybuilding roots. Co-owner Ian said: “Back in its heyday, Powerhouse was always known as a dedicated bodybuilding gym.
“When Nick took over, he started introducing general fitness classes. The gym became a kind of half and half venue. We’ve totally got rid of all that now and taken it back to basics.
“It just needed a good going-over. And that’s what we’ve been doing.
“It felt like a shell of its former self so we’re getting it back to it’s former glory. I’ve been doing it up just how it was back in the day in memory of Phil.
“We’ve even got a little memorial for him. Lots of people have told us how it looks like it did back in the day.
Ian Quayle (hat) and business partner Jase Bundred who have taken over Powerhouse Gym, Sandyford(Image: Pete Stonier)
“After we took over on Christmas Eve, we spent Christmas Day and Boxing Day in there getting it done up before we reopened on the December 27. After that we’ve just been giving it little touches as we go like painting, getting new mats in, sorting out all the equipment. Andy from Strength Asylum have been donating stuff to help us out too.
“Now Powerhouse is back to being an old-school bodybuilding gym. I know lots of people now go to regular gyms in the week and then come to Powerhouse on the weekend for that old-school feel.”
Now the new owners are looking forward to making Powerhouse accessible to all fitness enthusiasts.
Ian added: “We’re hoping once people come in and trying out that we can help put Stoke-on-Trent back on the map. I think Phil would be proud. I want people to realise that it’s not just a men’s bodybuilding gym either.
“Everyone is welcome. We’ve got a female physical trainer coming into to teach some classes, so that should hopefully help bring a mix of new people in. We just want it to be a thriving place to keep fit again.”
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