A COUPLE have opened a gym that will combat coronavirus restrictions with small group personal training.

George Branford, 25, and Emily Riggs, 26, have launched Intent91 with the goal of providing personalised training to those eager to achieve their fitness goals set during lockdown.

The new gym in Ashacre Lane, Worthing, combines group training and fitness classes with a programme to suit gymgoers of all levels.

It means each member has their own workout space, complying with social distancing measures.

George said: “We were sceptical at the start as to how things would go following the lockdown, but everyone has been very friendly and polite. It has been amazing and everything we could have wished for, to be honest.

“Lockdown has got people into fitness. It’s almost been a nice distraction from the outside world.”

Gyms across the country were given the green light to reopen in July but social distancing restrictions placed a limit on class numbers and a focus on equipment spacing.

At Intent91, members book their session through the gym’s bespoke app.

George said: “We have lots of protocols in place. We take temperatures on arrival and clean down kit between sessions. No one shares kit so our model suits the new regulations.”

George and Emily ran a personal training business for five years before deciding they wanted to open their own gym.

The gym is holding an open day on Saturday and people can visit from 11am to 3pm.