F45 Helensvale reopens after franchise takes over lease from previous owner

A popular Gold Coast training centre will be reopening after members were locked out for almost a month without any reason or warning.

A POPULAR Gold Coast training centre will be reopening after members were locked out for almost a month without any reason or warning.

F45 Helensvale, located in Oxenford, has been taken over by the F45 franchise headquarters.

The spokesman for F45 told the Bulletin yesterday “the studio closed due to a personal dispute between the previous owners”.

“F45 HQ has taken over the ownership, studio lease and management of its Helensvale studio,” he said.

“(We are) proactively working with the landlord towards successful reopening this Saturday.”

Ricci Herbig, Jai Herbig and Matt Willson ready to start training at F45 Helensvale. Picture: Glenn Hampson

F45 GOLD COAST GYM CLOSURE: HELENSVALE MEMBERS SHOCKED AFTER POPULAR GYM ABRUPTLY CLOSES

Landlord Bob Perrett padlocked the gates on Saturday May 18, leaving hundreds of members locked out without warning.

It was understood more than 500 people attended the gym at one stage, paying a minimum of $55 a week.

Some members were paying extra for an eight week challenge, which ended in a months time after the gym closed.

Dozens of members were disgruntled after they were given no warning and were uncertain what would happen to their weekly direct debits.

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Padlocks were placed on the training centres gates by the landlord on Saturday May 18. Photo: Mike Batterham

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F45 headquarters paused members payments soon after the closure but didn’t address whether people would be reimbursed.

The spokesman said: “Members are receiving two complimentary weeks of training and gift packs (at) the reopening.”

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The training centre has been taken over from Michael Hughes who was understood to have been operating it with his wife Louise.

Mr Hughes’ gym business was formerly named The FourFive and traded through a company named Hughzibear. The gym was solely directed and owned by Mr Hughes.

Louise Hughes post into F45 Helensvale's private Facebook page.

Louise Hughes with former F45 Helensvale owner Michael Hughes.

F45 HELENSVALE GYM WILL PUT FUTURE PAYMENTS ON HOLD AS OWNERS CLAIM CLOSURE IS TEMPORARY

The day after the gates were padlocked Mrs Hughes posted into a private Facebook group for F45 Helensvale members, passing on all responsibility to Mr Hughes.

“All avenues to contact Michael Hughes have been exhausted and head office has been notified,” she wrote.

In response to a query on that post, she replied: “I have my lawyer contacting head office for instructions. Contact Michael Hughes.”

Ricci Herbig, Jai Herbig and Matt Willson ready to start training again. Picture: Glenn Hampson

Mr Hughes then made a post onto the Facebook page, writing: “As you can imagine this is a difficult time for us all. I am currently still working on a way to save this business.”

It is understood Mrs and Mr Hughes, who have four children together, split last year but continued operating the gym together.

The training centres gates will officially reopen at 5am on Saturday. Free all-day training classes are being offered along with a DJ, healthy snacks and giveaways.