State-of-the-art Hyrox-focused gym coming to Shropshire’s biggest town without a leisure centre

A Hyrox-focused fitness centre is on its way to the largest Shropshire town currently without major leisure facilities.

The new gym is being set up in Shifnal by Brightstar with a £50,000 investment in the equipment for the hybrid facility.

Brightstar’s founder Joe Lockley said the centre, set to open in January, is intended for people of all fitness levels, from beginners, up to experts.

Brightstar, which was set up as a boxing club back in 2018, has significantly expanded its mission over the last eight years, providing support for young people who are facing barriers in life - and now supports more than 600 young people locally each week.

In September the organisation also took a major step by launching the Brightstar Charitable Foundation.

The plans for the new centre, which will be created by refurbishing Unit 2 at the existing Shifnal base on Old Smithfield, off Aston Road, have been guided by a survey conducted with potential users in recent weeks.

The new centre will run a mixture of sessions - some with a hybrid Hyrox focus, others centred on strength and conditioning, plus mobility-orientated classes.

Open gym time will also be available for members to use the facilities as they want.

A host of new equipment is planned for the facility, including SkiErgs, rowing machines, kettle bells, dumbbells, treadmills, power bags and more.

Joe said: “It will have everything you need, for everybody at every level. It is a real state-of-the-art facility with the best equipment we can get.”

Oswestry-based firm Aico, which has been a long-term supporter of Brightstar’s projects, is providing funding to launch the facility.

Joe explained that equipment has not been the only focus, with staff for the new centre a key element.

He said: “We have managed to get some of the best coaches around from Shifnal who will be taking the sessions.”

The centre is set to open on January 6, but Brightstar will be holding an open day on January 2 to showcase the facilities and give people a chance to try a host of free 20-minute taster sessions from 9am to 1.30pm, followed by a hybrid fitness race from 2pm - where people can see for themselves what form a competition takes.

Joe said: “Everyone can try all the different activities, the Hyrox sessions, strength sessions, mobility sessions. They can do it at their own pace and if someone is new and really worried about getting involved it’s perfect for them to come and have a go because ultimately we are creating a facility that is for everyone’s fitness level.

“It is about them developing their goals through fitness and we want to help them achieve that.”

Joe explained that the popularity of endurance sessions which have been running in Shifnal on Tuesdays and Thursdays had inspired the decision to create the new centre.

“The reason this all started is we have seen from our endurance sessions that so many people have expressed a massive interest in it.

“Also, it is rare that there is nothing like this in a town like Shifnal, there is not a gym or proper leisure facilities, or anything like that.

“We are the biggest town in Shropshire that does not have a leisure centre - it is crazy.”

Joe explained the ethos of the centre would be the same as the principle which has guided Brightstar since its inception, saying: “We want to use fitness to build belonging.”

He added: “There are three core elements of Brightstar: the community, education, and fitness and boxing. We know that through these three elements we can achieve our mission of empowering a brighter future.

“Even though it is a completely new area it is something we have always done, using sport and fitness to build belonging and we think we are the right people to do that in the area.”

Joe said Brightstar is looking forward to sharing the new centre with people of all abilities and fitness levels, and urged them to attend the open day and see the facility for themselves.

He said: “We want it to be a hub where people want to improve their lives through fitness and sport.”