A RADCLIFFE gym is to close its doors for good following the coronavirus lockdown.

Hub Fitness in Milltown Street was forced to shut on March 23 due to the pandemic.

Owners Nick and Louise Phillips have now revealed that they have decided not to reopen the exercise venue.

Instead the 38-year-olds are set to launch a new business and bike-based fitness project, HubLive and LuvCycle, in Manchester.

Mr Phillips said: "We decided that, for the sake of the business’s future, we needed to be proactive, the moment UK lockdown came and recognised that we actually had a real opportunity to fast-track our LuvCycle plans and start to create what we hope will at least be a UK-wide, if not a global brand."

Over recent weeks Mr and Mrs Phillips launched a virtual fitness business, HubLive, in a bid to keep people physically and mentally healthy without needing to get down to the gym.

The couple had viewed in premises in Newton Street, Manchester, prior to lockdown with a view to opening a boutique spinning club.

However they say the impacts of the Covid-19 inspired them to instead use the space as a film studio for live-streamed fitness classes.

The building has been converted to create a "full-on club vibe", including decor, lighting and music.

There is also a 70-inch screen allowing Mr Phillips to give personalised feedback live to clients seen on camera.

Mr Phillips said: “We recognised that our clients often rely on us to deliver exercise programmes that keep them mentally as well as physically fit and this led us to go all out to create online exercise delivery that could be enjoyed by any of them, at any time, from the comfort of their own homes."

To test out whether their project could work, over the last few weeks the couple cleared out the children’s toy room and streamed live lockdown workouts via their website, using Zoom.

These workouts were also made available 'on demand' and have seen dozens joining them online.

Praise has since flooded in for Mr and Mrs Phillips from participants who have called their exercises "fun and fabulous".

From this weekend the couple are also set to launch their sister brand, LuvCycle.

The venture sets virtual cycling challenges for people from the comfort of their own homes, and gives them to ability to ride to the music of their choice.

From 8am to 1pm on July 4, anyone, anywhere, will be able to tune in and join the classes for free.

The couple said they have also negotiated a discount deal on Stages SC1 and SC2 advanced technology bikes which can be purchased through their website.

Mr Phillips added: "“Having now created our filming studio, we are extremely excited by what the future holds in store and the sky really is the limit for our Mancunian twist on fitness.

"We have had amazing support from our clients and are confident that our HubLive and LuvCycle families will grow very fast.”

For more information or to sign up visit hubfitness.co.uk