THE owner of a gym in the heart of Harlow has announced that the gym will be closing at the end of the month.

Ripped Gym is based at Wych Elm.

Michelle Meade-Wyatt sent us the following statement.

“On January 31st, 2026, we will close.

With the opening of the newly refurbished Parringdon, now Body Factory, our business has become unviable due to the loss in trade. 

Along with the new David Lloyd that has opened in Harlow, there are simply too many gyms in a small catchment area to run the business successfully. 

Body Factory is a superb facility. It has a great reputation and the new refurbishment is simply stunning.  

This new gym is an asset to Harlow as a Town and to the community. We wish this independently run gym all the best for the future and hope you will all support it above the big chain gyms that have popped up all over the country.  

What’s next? 

Our last day of trading will be on Saturday 31st January 2026.   

All Direct Debits have been cancelled as of today. You will still be able to train up to and including the last day 31st January.

𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘂𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵, 𝘄𝗲’𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗼 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

Anyone with a 3, 6 or 12 month paid in full membership who will have unused membership after 31st January 2026, please email [email protected] with your name and contact details so we can arrange to pay a credit into your chosen bank account for the unused membership. 

We would like to thank all our customers for their support over the last 18 years. 

We don’t intend to just close the doors without a proper goodbye,  so we’ll organise a farwewell party with a DJ and food etc for Saturday 31st. All welcome. 

It’s obviously emotional so we’ll catch up with people, in person, over the coming days.

Check out the following local independently run gyms in around Harlow

@thebodyfactory.gym  (Harlow)

@nortongymwgc (Welwyn Garden City)

@challenge_gym (Bishops Stortford)

@monstergymlondon (Cheshunt)
https://www.instagram.com/p/DTCxU-pDELn/?igsh=d2FoNHMyMm15bmww