A new ‘supergym’ could soon open in the Nottingham building once home to the Tales of Robin Hood attraction.
Castle Gym had been based in Castle Boulevard since 1981, but was forced to close in 2022 after Nottingham City Council sold the property to a developer.
Holloway Road Limited bought the site from the council in 2021, and gym owner Luke Willmott was later served an eviction notice.
Owners said the gym, thought to be one of the oldest in the city, was seen as ‘home’ by some members and was also famed for its resident Rottweiler, Milo.
Mr Willmott and co-director Ray Brewin have now submitted plans for a multi-million pound ‘supergym’ in the vacant property on Maid Marian Way which was once home to the famous outlaw-themed attraction.
Mr Willmott said: “The gym is still very much at the forefront of our hearts and the city’s heart,”
“There is not a place that myself and Ray can go and people aren’t saying: ‘when is the gym happening?’
“All of our family and friends are being asked. Everybody wants this to happen.
“We’ve changed the scheme slightly to make the gym the absolute ‘supergym’ it is going to be.”
The property, next to Tesco Express, had been home to the Tales of Robin Hood attraction before its closure in 2009. The building has been sitting empty ever since.
Tales of Robin Hood opened in 1989, and utilised a chair-lift ride to take visitors through a recreation of medieval Nottingham and Robin Hood’s Sherwood Forest hideout, along with their sounds and smells.
Medieval banquets were also held in the attraction’s Great Hall area. All that now remains of the attraction is a cafe menu on one wall – advertising fish and chips for £4.50.
Mr Brewin says the ground floor will be dug up so that it can be converted into a large gym area featuring a mezzanine upper floor with cardio equipment.
The first floor will be used as a business and office hub. It is intended be used by up to 30 innovative local businesses.
“We’re aiming for it to become the largest independent gym in the country,” Mr Brewin added.
The pair hope the gym will be completed in the second quarter of 2025, subject to planning permission from Nottingham City Council.
It is expected to feature hundreds of pieces of custom-built gym equipment and will provide dozens of new jobs.
“In this day and age, everything is red tape, everything is trying to get over hurdles,” Mr Willmott said.
“We know what we want to achieve and we know the goals and targets we have set and we are not going to differ from them.
“So we have got to do everything in our power to keep pushing through. It is tough for us but we know it is tough for a lot of people out there who want to see Castle Gym become their home again.
“Hopefully all good things come to those who wait.”
