Hybrid Fitness had been due to open in St Helier’s Avenue, Hove with members making payments ahead of time to make the most of an early bird deal.
However, the gym chain has now said that a director behind the site has gone “AWOL” and that customers will have to get money back through administrators.
Gary Vaughan, 44, who signed up for the gym, said: “They said last year they were opening in September but then in September it was October.
“We’re a bit upset. I stopped another membership for this and now I want my money back.”
Another Hove resident who signed up for the gym added: “I was a bit annoyed really. I don’t know how many hundreds of people have signed up for £30 or more.
“I waited nearly four months, that’s four months wasted now. It’s a really poor show.”
Emails seen by The Argus told worried stakeholders that the Hove site had been “paused” and closed “indefinitely” alongside another site in Canary Wharf.
Another message from the Hybrid Fitness Team also added that the “director of Hybrid Hove has gone AWOL”.
Companies House filings show that Hybrid Hove Ltd director Matthew Payne resigned as director from sister company Hybrid Fitness Franchise Ltd in November.
Early bird prices for the gym, said to be available to the first 200 members, cost £29.99.
Memberships that had been taken out had been cancelled but gym goers were told “any fees that are owed would be subject to the AWOL director of the company placing the club into administration”.
Gym-goers called the response “concerning and frustrating”.
New gym facilities were set to replace the old Sports Direct Gym which closed suddenly in November 2022.
The new site had been backed by Olympic gold medallist Daley Thompson as a franchisee. There is no suggestion that the decathlete is at fault for any issues with the gym’s opening.
Hybrid Fitness was initially expected to open this autumn and promised facilities including combat classes and hot yoga.
Hybrid Fitness was approached for comment.
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