Southgate Fitness Closed?

K nacker

I was talking to lad last night who told me Southgate Fitness has closed down, literally overnight. Does anyone know anything? He thinks they are moving to the Neptune in Bettystown. If so, will my membership carry over?

Lord TSC

Not heard anything, other than afaik, it was losing money hand over fist.

EDIT: Actually, to add to that, I remember hearing that it was basically set up by a father to give his son some work and that the father didn't care if it made profit provided he got the initial investment back. But given how barren that center is, I can't imagine it was doing fantastically

gipi

I saw a post on their facebook page - yes, it has closed down, and they'll write to all members to let them know about alternative arrangements (not exactly sure what they are as I'm no longer a member, but I did hear Bettystown mentioned in a fb post).

Plenum

Was told by one of the staff memebrs on Friday that memners can use neptune in bettystown...anyone know if its any good?

Lord TSC

I was always tempted to sign up based on its location ( I live in Grange Rath). I'd imagine people would be annoyed if they were told they had to go to Bettystown now. Know it's not a major journey but still....

Wolfe Tone

Phew, I was planning on signing up, glad I decided to leave it for a while! I wouldnt bother going all the way to Bettystown.

gipi

Teamshadowclan wrote: »

I was always tempted to sign up based on its location ( I live in Grange Rath). I'd imagine people would be annoyed if they were told they had to go to Bettystown now. Know it's not a major journey but still....

It would be a major journey if you didn't have access to your own transport!

Was a member earlier this year, didn't renew for health reasons, I'm glad I didn't now!

K nacker

gipi wrote: »

It would be a major journey if you didn't have access to your own transport!

Was a member earlier this year, didn't renew for health reasons, I'm glad I didn't now!

There's a catch, you have to pay for full new membership at bettystown and then they will discount the remainder of the Southgate gym subscription.

Not great given its the same family involved in both gyms.:(

Rossin

if that's the case id take the hit and join a different gym

whelan1

if going to jackie skellys- or whatever its called now- make a point of seeing is the pool warm, my kids wont go in to it its that cold and the corridor from the pool to the changing rooms is always freezing too

Rossin

aura is top notch, ive had to cancel this month as im going back to college but i have to say the facilities are great. ive heard good things about integral as well but i couldnt tell you first hand what its like.

there are a few cheaper options there as well if you don't need a pool, a friend of mine just joined matrix for something like 250 up front for the year

K nacker

gipi wrote: »

It would be a major journey if you didn't have access to your own transport!

Was a member earlier this year, didn't renew for health reasons, I'm glad I didn't now!

Rossin wrote: »

if that's the case id take the hit and join a different gym

It the case.... They have a letter on the door of the closed gym stating how great Integral bettystown are for doing such a wonderful thing. Its real bullSh*te in the letter. Not one mention of the family connection between the two gyms in it. Its not being honest with members who have lost out, and to me it all smells to high heaven.

Wolfe Tone

Lads, I would be trying to get my money back, especially if there is a family connection there is money available to refund.

Mr_Hat

Whats the family connection?

K nacker

Mr_Hat wrote: »

Whats the family connection?

Is it allowed on this forum to give names?

Wolfe Tone

K nacker wrote: »

Is it allowed on this forum to give names?

Go for it, you wont be taken out and shot :pac:

Dont see how discussing who runs/owns a business is against any rules.

Mr_Hat

Teamshadowclan wrote: »

EDIT: Actually, to add to that, I remember hearing that it was basically set up by a father to give his son some work and that the father didn't care if it made profit provided he got the initial investment back. But given how barren that center is, I can't imagine it was doing fantastically

Is that who your talking about. Its kind a weird, that they'd set up competing bussiness. Are you sure they re related are they brothers ?

indiewindy

They are probably both limited companies and therefore legally seperate so you would have no comeback against the other gym, only hope is for people who paid by credit card to try to get chargebscks, not nice for their customers though

Lord TSC

Mr_Hat wrote: »

Is that who your talking about. Its kind a weird, that they'd set up competing bussiness. Are you sure they re related are they brothers ?

Yeah, it's who I was talking about. I can't imagine a gym in Southgate would contend too much with one down in Bettystown though. There are people either side of them that would probably find the other too far to go to anyway.

Rossin

so is there a gym in town called integral and also one in bettystown with similar name? but not connected?

ALS

Heard from a reliable source a new reputable owner is to open a gym @ southgate in the next fortnight ,
Lousy what previous owners did to their customers , always a handy gym for the locals :-)good to hear a new one to open,

Mylow

ALS wrote: »

Heard from a reliable source a new reputable owner is to open a gym @ southgate in the next fortnight ,
Lousy what previous owners did to their customers , always a handy gym for the locals :-)good to hear a new one to open,

I like where you said "a new reputable owner".
I was told a woman will be opening new gym in the next 2 weeks.
Off subject, a new hardware shop opening there end of October next door to the Barber. Also rumours of another big multiple taking remaining units opposite Dunnes.

PS: Maybe this should be in the Meath section, Southgate is in County Meath :-)

Lord TSC

I've always considered Grange Rath and its shopping center as part of Louth. I know the boundries don't agree but we're right on the edge and I'd say most people in here would say we're part of Drogheda which is Louth....

Awesome to hear about the new shops though.

m.j.w

just got back from holidays to discover this :mad: I had a year left on a 2 year membership. I have recieved no word about other arrangements, anyone know what they are

K nacker

m.j.w wrote: »

just got back from holidays to discover this :mad: I had a year left on a 2 year membership. I have recieved no word about other arrangements, anyone know what they are

in a nut shell,

Southgate fitness closed over night, leaving members high and dry.:(
Took money from punters up until the last min.:mad:
Moved all equipment to neptune bettystown to fitout new Integral gym.:cool:
The sting in the tail! Same family involved in both gyms!!.:eek:

Moral of the story. Don't pay more money to you know where, and join a gym with real integrity.

bigneacy

Mylow wrote: »

I like where you said "a new reputable owner".
I was told a woman will be opening new gym in the next 2 weeks.
Off subject, a new hardware shop opening there end of October next door to the Barber. Also rumours of another big multiple taking remaining units opposite Dunnes.

PS: Maybe this should be in the Meath section, Southgate is in County Meath :-)

Sorry for asking this here - but the other Southgate thread is in the meath forum and I can't go in there in my Louth GAA jersey.

Is this shopping centre any busier these days? We were having a serious think about opening an outlet there a few months back and put it on the back burner to concentrate on Dublin for a while.

Is the shopping centre still very empty?

Lord TSC

It is a bit busier. The new food place seems to be constantly full, and the Coke offices means there's people constantly buzzing about.

m.j.w

Cant believe these scumbags can just get away with this, i rang integral to ask what the alternative was and they said southgate got in touch with them a month ago saying they were in trouble and looking to work out a deal. If this is the case why were they taking new members 2 days before they closed. Its a disgrace and I hope the owner gets all thats due to him. I understand places going under in this climate but the way in which this happened is just a disgrace.

borderlinemeath

bigneacy wrote: »

Sorry for asking this here - but the other Southgate thread is in the meath forum and I can't go in there in my Louth GAA jersey.

Is this shopping centre any busier these days? We were having a serious think about opening an outlet there a few months back and put it on the back burner to concentrate on Dublin for a while.

Is the shopping centre still very empty?

While Coca Cola have moved in, I still don't think it's busy enough for most businesses.

Having also been in retail for years I loathe trading in shopping centres/retail parks for the extortionate maintenance charges for sweet FA. The last place I was in had a ridiculous management fee, which didn't even include refuse charges and when there was a break in there was no security on site as they had cut the service down to a mobile service.:mad:

Don't know what the rates would be like either but some shopping centres have a higher rate than high st based on the fact that they're a "destination". And Southgate hasn't got enough passing trade.

Vego

pluse the shopping center is a h&s risk it rains one small drop it turns in to a skating rink

beakymon

both gyms are connected, 2 brothers. one of which is father of one of the southgate owners, the other one conveniently is now the bettystown manager. obviously the move was not sudden at all and well planned, hang out till the next standing order date (sept 1st), then close that night and move contents to bettystown. terrible way to treat clients, take the money and run. even when asked on the last day if they were closing was lied to..It seems like the business moved rather than folded due to financial constraints. Personally would have nothing to do with any future ventures any of them are involved in. leopards never lose their spots, apples don't fall far from the tree, once bitten twice shy etc.

beakymon

Yes, what were the architects thinking! Great design for sunny climes but not drogheda! V impractical leaving trolleys outside and having to push them when wet into supermarket..

beakymon

Hope a new owner will take it over, put tvs and air conditioning in too. is handy location, but was v stuffy for working out in. always people complining about lack of air and heat in the place. here's hoping...just back from holidays and in serious need of gym! Any more info on re-opening appreciated! Very easy to slip back into bad habits so regular gym going required asap.

K nacker

bigneacy wrote: »

Sorry for asking this here - but the other Southgate thread is in the meath forum and I can't go in there in my Louth GAA jersey.

Is this shopping centre any busier these days? We were having a serious think about opening an outlet there a few months back and put it on the back burner to concentrate on Dublin for a while.

Is the shopping centre still very empty?

A polite reminder guys, please say on topic. This thread was started to expose the underhanded way Southgate fitness did an overnight runner to Integral fitness, leaving there members high and dry and out of pocket :mad:

Sadfred

If people did not try to operate in these trying times we would have no business.
Surely it is better to try and fail than not to try at all...

Vego

Sadfred wrote: »

If people did not try to operate in these trying times we would have no business.
Surely it is better to try and fail than not to try at all...

:pac::pac::pac::pac:

Rossin

haha nice first post


so there's nothing wrong with accepting a years membership off someone and then closing the doors days later?

Id never join any of their gyms after hearing that

Sadfred

Rossin wrote: »

haha nice first post


so there's nothing wrong with accepting a years membership off someone and then closing the doors days later?

Id never join any of their gyms after hearing that

I Havnt heard of any one that was asked to pay a full years membership before they closed intact when I went into join was told they where only offering monthly or pay as you go?

irishwarrior

Its an absolute disgrace,and it seems to be a popular theme in drogheda gyms!!! westgate closing on a friday night matrix opens next day no warning to members no refund no pool etc,and i see the young manager of southgate now working in the original integral!!!! emmmm coincidence:rolleyes:

Rossin

Sadfred wrote: »

I Havnt heard of any one that was asked to pay a full years membership before they closed intact when I went into join was told they where only offering monthly or pay as you go?

ah okay sorry, so they were taking a months membership 2 days before closing, still robbery!

Did you work there Sadfred? a friend of the owners? the owner himself?!

Scotty #

I'm not a member of any of these gyms and I'm not familiar with any of the owners. If someone accepted my (hard f'king earned!) money while KNOWING that I would never receive what I was paying for - I'd be livid! I would consider that the same as burgling my house or mugging me in the street.

I'd make a big sign up and walk into their office. I'd demand a FULL refund and tell them that I would be picketing their premises and I have reporters from local press/radio on way to take photo's.

Failing that I'm afraid I'd really have to take the law into my own hands. :rolleyes:

beakymon

Rossin wrote: »

ah okay sorry, so they were taking a months membership 2 days before closing, still robbery!

Did you work there Sadfred? a friend of the owners? the owner himself?!

They had 4 standing order dates, could have taken the last one in August and closed but waited until the next date (the 1st of the month), took the money and closed that very night. Disgraceful. Not to mention the blatant promotion of gyms they are now involved in via letter and notice, as if unrelated gyms would entertain disgruntled clients and offer discounts! It is obvious to anyone with half a brain that they pulled a quick one. V sneaky and underhand. I've heard of people paying cash up front in southgate for annual membership in the weeks preceeding this too. Clearly acquiring a new business and staff does not happen overnight, so they knew fine well what they were doing and orchestrated the move from southgate to integral to obtain maximum monies from members. What goes around comes around - you would have to question their business sense. People talk. A lot. Small places like Drogheda and Bettystown are not where one should sh1t on ones doorstep and think they will get away with it! It's a wonder they didn't take over Jackie Skelleys too, turn off the a/c and remove the tvs there too! Need a good gym to open on southside of town with interested and enthusiastic staff, not just all PR and money grabbing and once they get in they don't care, as has been my experience of 3 gyms in the town to date.

Sadfred

beakymon wrote: »

Rossin wrote: »

ah okay sorry, so they were taking a months membership 2 days before closing, still robbery!

Did you work there Sadfred? a friend of the owners? the owner himself?!

They had 4 standing order dates, could have taken the last one in August and closed but waited until the next date (the 1st of the month), took the money and closed that very night. Disgraceful. Not to mention the blatant promotion of gyms they are now involved in via letter and notice, as if unrelated gyms would entertain disgruntled clients and offer discounts! It is obvious to anyone with half a brain that they pulled a quick one. V sneaky and underhand. I've heard of people paying cash up front in southgate for annual membership in the weeks preceeding this too. Clearly acquiring a new business and staff does not happen overnight, so they knew fine well what they were doing and orchestrated the move from southgate to integral to obtain maximum monies from members. What goes around comes around - you would have to question their business sense. People talk. A lot. Small places like Drogheda and Bettystown are not where one should sh1t on ones doorstep and think they will get away with it! It's a wonder they didn't take over Jackie Skelleys too, turn off the a/c and remove the tvs there too! Need a good gym to open on southside of town with interested and enthusiastic staff, not just all PR and money grabbing and once they get in they don't care, as has been my experience of 3 gyms in the town to date.

Did not work there and clearly do not have as much information or interest as you. Glad you have so many facts. I was making a comment on socity as a whole and the negitive response posted on these forums. you have missed total fitness and many other gyms that failed in your rantings but I am sure they are all crooks and all set out to fail. What a wonderful place we live in...

m.j.w

Sadfred wrote: »

Did not work there and clearly do not have as much information or interest as you. Glad you have so many facts. I was making a comment on socity as a whole and the negitive response posted on these forums. you have missed total fitness and many other gyms that failed in your rantings but I am sure they are all crooks and all set out to fail. What a wonderful place we live in...

who cares about the other gyms! southgate has ripped people of as has been stated before your post so if you had have read the whole thread you would have got the picture.

Sadfred

m.j.w wrote: »

Sadfred wrote: »

Did not work there and clearly do not have as much information or interest as you. Glad you have so many facts. I was making a comment on socity as a whole and the negitive response posted on these forums. you have missed total fitness and many other gyms that failed in your rantings but I am sure they are all crooks and all set out to fail. What a wonderful place we live in...

who cares about the other gyms! southgate has ripped people of as has been stated before your post so if you had have read the whole thread you would have got the picture.

Wind yer neck in if you had read it you would find reference to the matrix Neptune integral and jackie skellys. So get back to your Southgate bashing and knock yourself out. Wouldn't want to broaden the thread or look at the bigger picture. Enjoy

Scotty #

Sadfred wrote: »

I was making a comment on socity as a whole and the negitive response posted on these forums.

You know you are right Sadfred. How DARE these people react is such a way to having their money stolen. What is wrong with you people!?!?!

Sadfred

Scotty # wrote: »

Sadfred wrote: »

I was making a comment on socity as a whole and the negitive response posted on these forums.

You know you are right Sadfred. How DARE these people react is such a way to having their money stolen. What is wrong with you people!?!?!

Go scotty send the mob and let them hang they must have done this on purpose so burn the harlots and condem them all to hell.....

beakymon

As K nacker already pointed out:

"A polite reminder guys, please say on topic. This thread was started to expose the underhanded way Southgate fitness did an overnight runner to Integral fitness, leaving there members high and dry and out of pocket."

Whatever happened to attack the post and not the poster! Given the topic of this thread one would not expect there to be positive comments! Here's an idea - perhaps you should consider starting your own thread on whatever it is you do have information and/or interest in. Makes me wonder why you are even posting on this thread...
TBH I don't see the point of making a general point on society on a very specific thread and then going all OTT...takes all sorts I guess..whatever floats your boat.
Cool the jets man...and breathe, in the nose and out the mouth, 2 on the way in and 4 on the way out, and relax.

Sadfred

It is with sadness I post this. But yet another gym closes it's doors in Bettystown. The Bettystown Court will close next Thursday. That is Three Gyms in 5 months. I think the problem guys here is bigger than the operators. I am angry that we are losing yet another asset in our community. And it only reinforces my point that we are prehaps too quick to bring out the pitch forks. The answer I dont know, but I am sure this descision was not made in haste. We are losing valuable resources to our community. There are people responsible but I suspect they are landlords county councils and financial institutions. Just my thoughts but hey :mad::mad::mad::mad:

beakymon

Sadfred wrote: »

It is with sadness I post this. But yet another gym closes it's doors in Bettystown. The Bettystown Court will close next Thursday. That is Three Gyms in 5 months. I think the problem guys here is bigger than the operators. I am angry that we are losing yet another asset in our community. And it only reinforces my point that we are prehaps too quick to bring out the pitch forks. The answer I dont know, but I am sure this descision was not made in haste. We are losing valuable resources to our community. There are people responsible but I suspect they are landlords county councils and financial institutions. Just my thoughts but hey :mad::mad::mad::mad:

It's not just the gym closing, the hotel is closing for 9 months till May 2012. Apparently seasonal business. Which seems a bit odd considering all their wedding related advertising. By all accounts any reports I've heard from people who have stayed in this hotel or have had weddings there have been terrible and any reviews I have seen have supported this. Just look at tripadvisor. So clearly more at play than just financial considerations. Like any other business customer service, good management and maintenance of high standards are paramount to success and longevity. Given the current economic climate it surprises me that word of mouth in small communities is underrated and business, like common sense, is not so common, but like life what you put in is generally what you get out. As they are part of the Brennan group of hotels rather than an independent operation one would expect higher standards. To relate to current post, I am sure this is good news for Integral/Southgate ears! Now where did I leave my monopoly box...

gcmcollie

Hi,
I was down in the Bettystown Court Leisure Centre last night and there was no word of it closing. Was it just announced toda? I'm gutted. They really have the best bootcamp around