Dave’s Gym – Our History

1970s – The Beginning

Dave’s Gym was founded in 1973 by Dave Mather in two rooms behind a youth club in Winnington. Supported by Roberts Bakery, friends, and local enthusiasts, the gym began with just a few weight benches and dumbbells. It initially opened Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 6pm–9pm, for men only.

It soon became clear that more space was needed as equipment steadily accumulated. The youth club gradually allocated more rooms, allowing the gym to expand quickly. Training cost just 20p, and facilities were very basic—bare walls, no carpets, and simple equipment by today’s standards.

Cardio? That didn’t exist—yet.

1980s – Growth & Inclusion

Entering the 1980s, Dave’s Gym installed its first sunbed and recognised that women also wanted to train in a gym environment. In 1982, Ladies’ Nights were introduced on Tuesdays and Thursdays (6pm–9pm).

The first floor of the youth club became available, making space for changing rooms, showers, and additional equipment.

The entire Mather family soon became involved:

Joyce on reception

Karen and Neil opening the gym earlier at 4pm after school

Powerlifting remained central to the gym’s identity, with members competing in powerlifting and bodybuilding competitions. In 1984, Dave’s Gym proudly hosted the North West Counties Weightlifting Competition.

The gym welcomed visits from legendary figures including:

Tom Platz (Mr Olympia competitor)

Brian Buchanan (Mr Universe)

Bill Kazmaier (World’s Strongest Man)

Group exercise began to evolve, starting with Fatigues, a military-style 30‑minute workout. In 1988, Step Aerobics swept the nation, with both Joyce and Neil teaching hugely popular classes.

Some of the very first class members from this era still attend classes today.

Cardio training at the time? Running up and down Winnington Hill.

1990s – Cardio & a New Home

The gym purchased its first exercise bike, a Tunturi, unaware of the cardiovascular fitness boom that was about to arrive.

A major Charity Day was held in aid of the Scanner Appeal at Leighton Hospital, raising just under £8,000.

1993 – The Big Move

One of the most significant milestones came in 1993, when the gym relocated to the current premises.

Main room: 100ft x 40ft

Divided into:

- Aerobics studio (40ft x 40ft)
- Gym floor (60ft x 40ft)

The space felt enormous compared to Winnington. With room to grow, the gym invested in 20 additional step platforms, allowing classes of up to 50 people, regularly filled by Joyce and Neil.

1994 – Cardio Expansion

Investment continued with:

2 recumbent bikes, 1 treadmill, 1 stepper

This marked the start of Dave’s Gym’s dedicated cardio area.

The Sunbed Centre also opened this year with 7 state‑of‑the‑art sunbeds, alongside a popular door‑to‑door sunbed hire service.

1998–1999

1998: Added 2 Ergoline beds and 6 Tansun vertical tanning units

1999: Charity Day for the Pat Seed Appeal, raising £12,750

2000s – Expansion & Innovation

As membership grew, capacity was reached. A mezzanine floor was installed to create additional training space.

2005 – Core Training

Dave’s Gym invested in cutting‑edge core equipment, including:

Power Plate, Flexibar, BOSU

This marked the beginning of a strong focus on functional and core training.

2006 – Major Alterations

Significant upgrades included:

A new studio for classes

A beauty salon

Removal of the dividing wall from 1993, greatly expanding the gym floor

Car park extension to meet increased demand

Once again, new space was gradually filled with the latest equipment.

2008

Further investment in:

Star Trac spinners, Treadmills, A second Power Plate

2010s – Milestones & Community

2012

The mezzanine floor was extended again to house:

A dedicated abs section

This freed up ground‑floor space for:

Max Rack, TRX, Dedicated core training area

2013 – 40 Years Strong

To celebrate 40 years, Dave’s Gym raised over £10,000 for Cancer Research UK on 24 February 2013.

Members completed incredible sponsored challenges, including:

Climbing the Eiffel Tower on a stepper, Riding a marathon on a spin bike, Gym triathlons, Bench pressing the weight of a car

Rowing the length of the English Channel in under 3 hours

A 2½‑hour Mega Class capped off an unforgettable day.

November 2013 – Equipment Upgrades

Power Plate Pro7 with customised programmes and exercise videos

2 Star Trac Spinner Blade ION bikes with advanced power meters

2014 – Direct Debit Launch

For the first time in Dave’s Gym history, Direct Debit memberships were introduced:

Memberships from £15.99 per month

£15.99 joining fee

Unlimited gym and classes

2015 – Functional Training Expansion

Mezzanine floor extended again

Leg machines relocated upstairs

Expanded functional training zone with: TRX Training Zone, TRX RIP Trainer

Installation of the Star Trac 9‑station cable system

2018 – 45 Years

A charity day on 25 February raised £7,500 for North West Cancer Research.

Challenges included:

Squatting the weight of an army tank, 250 miles on spin bikes, 1,000 press‑ups

A 3½‑hour Mega Class with all instructors

2020–2021 – Coronavirus Pandemic

On 20 March 2020, Dave’s Gym closed for the first time due to UK government lockdowns.

During closures, the team:

Repainted and deep‑cleaned the gym

Refreshed the power room décor

Repainted the exterior and added new signage

Upgraded the membership management system

New Membership App – Membr

Features include:

QR code or PIN entry, Training programmes, Exercise library (800+ exercises), On‑demand classes, Workout tracking, Goal setting, Class bookings

New Equipment Added

Nautilus Glute Ham Developer

2 StairMaster 10G machines with OverDrive Training Mode

Nautilus Inspiration Chest Press with Lock‑N‑Load weight selection

2023 – 50 Years of Dave’s Gym

On 1 March 2023, Dave’s Gym celebrated its 50th anniversary with a charity day raising £6,466 for Cancer Research UK.

The day featured:

Competitions, Personal challenges, A 3‑hour Mega Class

A hugely successful raffle

A Sad Farewell – The Saddest Day in Our History

On 24 July 2023, Dave’s Gym experienced the saddest day in its history with the passing of our founder, Dave Mather, aged 83.

Dave was far more than the owner of a gym. He was the heart and soul of Dave’s Gym, dedicating over 50 years of his life to building a place where people felt welcome, supported, and encouraged to be the best version of themselves. From the very first weights behind the youth club in Winnington to the gym as it stands today, Dave’s passion, work ethic, and belief in community shaped everything.

He had a unique ability to bring people together—members, staff, competitors, beginners, and families alike. Many lifelong friendships were formed within these walls because of the environment Dave created. For countless members, Dave’s Gym became more than a place to train; it became a second home.

Dave was a loving husband to Joyce, a much‑loved dad to Karen and Neil, a proud father‑in‑law, devoted grandad, and great‑grandad. His loss was felt deeply not only by his family, but by generations of members whose lives he touched.

Although Dave is no longer with us, his values live on every day in the gym he built. His legacy continues through his family, the team, and the community that still thrives at Dave’s Gym. We are proud to carry his name forward and honour everything he stood for.

2025 – Continuing the Legacy

A busy year with major investments, including:

Nautilus Leg Press

Nautilus Incline Row

Nautilus Pec Deck

6 Booty Builder machines, including:

Split Squat / Deadlift (one of the first in the UK)Step‑Up machine (also one of the first in the UK)New Precor cross trainers

Sunbed Centre Upgrade

MegaSun K11 Air – an all‑LED sunbed delivering exceptional tanning results

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History