Independent gym becomes largest in town after exciting £300k expansion

Ascendancy Fitness Gym, based on Penketh Business Park, first opened its doors in February 2018.

Founder, Clayton Leah, from Great Sankey, has poured everything into expanding the business, with its first major growth taking place in just after lockdown in 2020 with a £60,000 upgrade during the time when the country was in lockdown.

Since then, it has continued to rise in popularity, and Clayton has joined hands with business partner Jack Bramhall – one of his clients from the days when he worked as a full-time personal trainer- to expand the gym onto two floors.

The gym has expanded onto another floor (Image: Supplied)
Speaking on the exciting new renovation which makes Ascendancy Fitness Warrington’s largest independent gym, Clayton said: “We were already based on the first floor of the premises and have now taken over the ground floor too.

“The downstairs floor is purely for weights and resistance training and the upstairs is an athletic performance centre. We have invested in the last 18 months around £300,000 into this.”

Part of the expansion has included introducing 25 new pieces of equipment which Clayton noted he had ‘handpicked’ from some of the world’s leading equipment manufacturers – having travelled all the way to Cologne to source it.

The renovation also sees the addition of shower and changing room facilities, as well as boasting a dedicated app and membership system that was designed by co-owner Jack.

Clayton touched on the aspirations both him and Jack have for the already thriving business, saying: “Our main goals have always been to provide the best possible experience for members.

The gym has expanded onto another floor (Image: Supplied)
“We have an unbelievable facility, and we want to provide an experience like no other.”

The grand opening of the expansion proved a big success last Monday (May 20) as Clayton stated that more 200 people piled through the doors to check out the gyms latest upgrade.

A passionate entrepreneur, the 31-year-old kick started self-employment after graduating university and becoming a personal trainer.

And after opening Ascendancy Fitness six years ago, Clayton spoke of the struggles he was faced with when the pandemic hit, which led him to bringing Jack onto his business venture.

“After Covid hit we closed our doors, and I took Jack on as a business partner. It was either close completely or go for it and we decided to go for it and expanded ready for when we opened up after lockdown,” he added.

The risk paid off and the gym is now a thriving facility with more than 80 pieces of equipment spread out over two spacious floors.

A more personal addition to the new expansion is a sign erected on the wall which reads ‘never give up’. This is a nod to Clayton’s grandad who he states is his ‘biggest inspiration’.

“That has always been his saying. He came in and signed it himself and it has been acrylic wrapped and will stay there in place at the gym always.”

To find out more about the developments of the Great Sankey gym visit the website here.