London gym offers to hand over the keys to the NHS to provide space for 400 beds

Boutique London gym 1Rebel has made an open offer to the NHS to hand over the keys to all of its London clubs for use by the NHS as coronavirus spreads across the capital.

They estimate that across their seven studios in central London, they could make space for 300-400 beds. There are also changing facilities, showers and areas for IT facilities. 

Gym founders have even set-up a special website which provides a detailed factsheet about all of the 1Rebel clubs so the NHS can review and decide if and how it might best use their spaces as the situation evolves. 

‘London is currently the area of the UK most heavily affected by the coronavirus and we’re hearing stark warnings about impending shortages of hospital beds,’ co-founder and CEO James Balfour tells Metro.co.uk.

‘If we can be part of the solution, we absolutely want to be.’

James adds that the gyms also have great lighting and sound systems which he says could really help to lift people’s spirits.

‘We don’t know exactly how the NHS might use our studios, and obviously this is a situation that’s evolving by the day, so we felt the best route was to share details of what’s available with an open offer to the NHS to use whatever it would like.’

1Rebel announced earlier this week that effective from 21 March, they will be closing studios until further notice in the interest of staff and member wellbeing.

They are now supporting members with at-home workouts via Instagram. But rather than see the studios empty, they are very much hoping it can be used for the public good.

‘This is as close to a wartime scenario as many of us will ever experience,’ adds James. ‘We believe it’s a time to come together and each do what we can.’

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