PUBLIC VS PRIVATE DYNAMICS
Diverging Models: Growth, Contraction & Format Shift
MEMBERS VS GYMS CHANGE
PRIVATE MEMBERS INDEX PUBLIC MEMBERS INDEX
PRIVATE GYMS INDEX
PUBLIC GYMS INDEX
Recent trends highlight a clear divergence in how the public and private sectors are evolving. While the overall market continues to grow, this growth is being driven overwhelmingly by private operators, with public provision showing only marginal net expansion. The private sector has delivered substantial net growth, supported by new site development and strong increases in membership. This re ects a model geared toward scale, investment and commercial responsiveness. In contrast, the public sector has seen a gradual decline in site numbers, despite continued growth in membership. This creates a notable imbalance: public facilities are serving more members within a slightly reduced estate, leading to increased utilisation and pressure on capacity. At the same time, private operators are expanding both footprint and membership, reinforcing their role in driving overall market growth. These diverging trends point to fundamentally different operating dynamics. Private operators are scaling through expansion and investment, while public provision is increasingly focused on maintaining access and ef ciency within existing infrastructure. The result is a market in which growth is occurring across both sectors, but through very different models and trajectories.
NET CHANGE BY SECTOR
Private
Public
90
STATE OF THE UK FITNESS INDUSTRY REPORT 2026
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