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Sun, 22 Mar 2026

Sun, 22 Mar 2026 'Club vibes without the hangover': The twenty-somethings going out - in the gym

Young people are driving a gym boom as more fitness spaces are transformed into vibrant hangouts.

* Young people, particularly those under 29, are increasingly using gyms as a social hub and community space.
* 47% of new joiners at PureGym in January were aged 25 or under, while 40% of The Gym Group's members are Gen Z (adults under 29).
* Over half of Gen Z gym-goers have formed new friendships on the gym floor.
* Gyms are positioning themselves as alternative spaces for socialising, competing with traditional pubs and nightclubs.
* Young consumers are choosing gyms over bars and nightclubs, with many opting for alcohol-free socialising.
* The average spend per month on fitness by Gen Z is £48.81, up 17% from the previous year.
* Mintel's research found that just over half of 18-24-year-olds had gone to a gym more than once in the month, compared with 42% who went to a pub for drinks.
* The shift towards gym socialising may be harming pubs, which have seen a decline in numbers since the Covid pandemic.