Farndon's Aptitude triples in size to become Cheshire's biggest independent gym

When Gareth Preston opened Aptitude Health & Fitness in December 2020, in the middle of the pandemic, it would have been a brave person who predicted where the business would be just a few years later. Today the Farndon gym has tripled in size and moved into a 16,000 sq ft building, making it the biggest independent gym in Cheshire.

Gareth, a former athlete, built Aptitude into an award-winning fitness business from its base at Monument Place Business Park, owned by the Barnston Estate. As demand grew, he set his sights on a larger warehouse unit next door, and after planning permission was granted the expansion began in earnest.

What makes the story stand out is how the community rallied behind it. More than 250 supporters raised over £31,000 through a crowdfunding campaign towards the relocation, beating the target. Gareth himself invested more than £200,000 in the project, which was expected to create 20 jobs once complete.

The new gym opened its doors in spring 2025, and members have plenty to explore. The gym floor is twice the size of the previous one and houses 78 machines, while new showers and changing rooms and extended opening hours make it easier to fit training around busy lives.

There is a clear focus on variety. A dedicated boxing space sits alongside a functional training area designed for HYROX, the fitness racing format that has exploded in popularity, and the timetable runs to 40 classes a week. A DJ booth adds a touch of energy to sessions, underlining that this is a gym that wants training to feel fun.

For a village like Farndon, on the Welsh border south of Chester, having a facility of this scale on the doorstep is a real asset, and the crowdfunding response shows how much local people value it.

It is also a reminder that independent gyms can thrive by putting community first. Aptitude grew from a lockdown-era start-up into a destination gym largely because its members wanted to be part of the journey.

Aptitude Health & Fitness is at Monument Place Business Park, Farndon, near Chester.