Health Update: The Beach Wellness Gym in Minehead celebrates 10 years – What Experts Say

The Beach Wellness Gym in Minehead, based at The Beach Hotel, celebrated its 10th anniversary on January 29, during an event organised by the Somerset Activity & Sports Partnership (SASP).

The gym first opened in 2016 in partnership with the YMCA and The Beach Hotel.

The celebration morning included participants and users of the gym sharing stories and reflections about its impact.

SASP said: “From the very beginning, The Beach Wellness Gym has stood out as much more than ‘just a gym’. It was designed to be a place where people whether returning to activity after illness, living with long-term health conditions, or simply looking to improve fitness could feel welcomed, supported, and encouraged every step of the way. Today, that ethos continues to be at the heart of everything we do.”

The gym now offers health-focused fitness classes, open gym sessions, and supervised exercise support through the ProActive Physical Activity on Referral service, which helps patients referred by GPs.

One participant, Anita, described the atmosphere as warm and inclusive.

She said: “The team here is fabulous.

“They are so helpful and so nice.

“I’ve been here from the start after my local gym closed, and they are just a very friendly gym.”

Another attendee shared how vital the gym has become to their life, crediting it with helping them become happier, healthier and supported.

Over the last decade, The Beach Wellness Gym has logged 36,000 open gym hours and handled more than 2,500 NHS patient referrals, including individuals with cancer, diabetes, cardiac histories, mental health conditions, and stroke.

The gym has also delivered nearly 2,000 group sessions for NHS referrals, totalling over 19,000 patient attendances—an average of 12 sessions per person.

SASP credited the gym’s success to the ongoing dedication of its partners, instructors, health professionals, and the community.

It extended thanks to everyone who attended the anniversary event and to those who have supported The Beach Wellness Gym throughout its 10-year journey, including Colin Johnson, YMCA Dulverton Group, West Somerset PCN, Minehead Community Defib Group, instructors and the team.