Shock and upset at CrossFit Darlington closure

CrossFit Darlington told members in an email out of the blue on Sunday (February 1) that the gym would be shut for good, citing “ongoing economic headwinds”.

The gym, which is based in Morton Park, has been up and running since 2013 – but The Echo understands staff, management and members were unaware of any impending closure, leaving many to find out the news online.

Manager Joe Allinson at CrossFit Gym in Darlington (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

The site, owned by Joanne Bannatyne, is now understood to be closed, with members unable to go inside and retrieve kit and personal effects.

One impacted member is Bethany Whyte – who began training at the gym two years ago after relocating to the region in 2015.

For her, CrossFit Darlington has become a safe haven where she has met “real friends” and she is one of many who have had to relocate to another gym.

The 32-year-old told The Echo: “I can’t put into words how devastated people are – in our group chats people are comparing it to grieving/mourning, to losing a friend, people have taken time off work to process it because it’s not just a gym, it’s our whole friendship group.

“People take their kids to this gym, their dogs, we all socialize outside of the gym. It’s nothing like a commercial gym where you rock up to a generic class and then go home. 

“For me personally, it’s the only place I look forward to going every day and it’s the only place I have made real friends.

Friends Emma Davis, Kerry Wilde and Alice Heslop at the gym. (Image: ALICE HESLOP)

“We have equipment in there – expensive headphones, grips, trophies and winner boards, accessories that aren’t cheap and it’s being withheld.”

Not knowing where to turn, Bethany and others have set up a GoFundMe page to help ‘save’ the gym, with a target of £1,000.

Her devastation has been echoed by Alice Heslop, a member of the gym for 18 months.

She said CrossFit users had reacted to the sudden announcement with “shock, upset and anger”. 

 Alice, from Darlington, said: “It’s a massive shock and the fact that it’s come out of the blue is terrible.”

The 45 year old said the gym has been “a lifeline” for members, adding: “It’s not just a gym, it’s a proper little community – it’s lovely. 

 “Some people have met their husbands and wives there, I’ve met some of my best friends there. It’s helped a lot of people and everyone has their own story.”

Another woman, who did not wish to be named, told the Echo a “heads up” about the closure would have been preferred to a short email.

She said: “The post says they had been thinking about the closure for a few months. Well, a heads up would have been nice.

“I appreciate that times are hard and businesses are struggling but if you have known that for a while it would have been nice to let us know.

“We have all got lockers with things in there, and they are locked inside the gym. We don’t know when we can get them.”