64—MARYLEBONE JOURNAL
HEALTH
THE THIRD WAY
Viel Richardson pays a visit to Marylebone’s newest and most spectacular-looking gym and finds out about energy, architecture and why one of the rooms looks just like his old school hall
I’m not really sure what to expect as I approach the glistening new entrance to The Third Space gym on Bulstrode Place. I mean, just what exactly is a 5-star gym? Inside, the space is bright, spacious and shiny, with machines waiting for the attention of a horde of dedicated fitness members in pursuit of the body beautiful. So later when seated opposite Eric Dunmore, CEO of the company, I ask him what it’s all about. “Our ambition was to bring into the sector things that we thought
were missing,” he explains. “Energy was one. When you go into many large gyms, even though people are expending a lot of energy the atmosphere is flat, So people leave thinking that the industry as a whole doesn’t provide very good service. We want people to feel energised from the moment they arrive and throughout their workout. We also want people to smile while they are here, to have fun. When they smile people feel better and more positive about whatever they are doing. Hence things like the retro gym here or the climbing wall in Soho. “We also wanted to bring a real
sense of quality to the place. We felt that even in the high end clubs, that quality feel was missing – things
not mended, changing rooms a bit grubby, machines a bit worn. It didn’t feel like walking into high quality spaces. So here we have used the highest quality finishes, we have the best machines we can get, and we replace them before they get worn out. We also look for different types of machine to help reinforce that sense of energy and interest. Crucially it is also about looking for the highest quality staff. We go to great lengths to find the best people we can and then invest in their training to provide the best possible service from the moment you walk into reception.” This attention to the atmosphere
is reflected in the airy feel of the place. It turns out that this was more
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