Stoke Newington’s Sunstone gym closes down

Sunstone Gym

Closing: Sunstone Health and Leisure club in Stoke Newington. Photograph: © Lucy Fisher (creative commons)

Sunstone Health and Leisure Club, a women-only gym in Stoke Newington, has unexpectedly closed down.

Michael Sinclair, the owner of Sunstone Health and Leisure Club told the Hackney Citizen he was “devastated” that he could no longer keep the business going.

He said: “After piling in untold thousands of pounds in the last couple of years in particular (which will lead to my selling up my home of the last thirty years) and despite a wonderful, dynamic and supportive team here now and ongoing publicity, the numbers would not add up and there was no alternative but to admit defeat to the recession and other challenges.”

“Sunstone has been the centre of the multi-ethnic, multicultural society which makes Stoke Newington and neighbouring  areas so unique and so attractive.  Although I was not on the “shopfloor” because Sunstone is for women only, I am proud of the service, goodwill and warmth we were able to offer.

“I have been touched by the messages of sympathy and understanding from so many at the loss of my “baby” who grew into a mature and responsible and supportive pillar of the community.”

When asked, Mr Sinclair said he could not yet say whether those holding memberships for Sunstone gym would be reimbursed.

14 Comments

  1. Gym bunny on Tuesday 17 June 2014 at 21:42

    This is bull. …[Deleted by moderator]… They put up with it because of the amazing instructors ( Lynn , Sally, Eva before sacked and Helen),they needed a women’s only gym and the price was better than the chains. Most classes you’d hear people complaining and when they complained… [Deleted by moderator] …nothing ever changed. …[Deleted by moderator]… Perhaps this closure will give the opportunity for a truly vibrant and community minded individual to open a new women’s gym. …[Deleted by moderator]…



  2. NaturalBornThriller on Wednesday 18 June 2014 at 08:29

    Yes,I agree w gym bunny. I worked there 2years ago …[Deleted by moderator]… People liked it coz of the instructors,and coz they build a community via years. I feel sorry for the members and the staff who worked there,but not for Michael,coz now he can start thinking what comes around goes around, …[Deleted by moderator]…



  3. Yvonne Kit on Wednesday 18 June 2014 at 12:02

    I know Sunstone Women has been in business for 22 years and as far as i was aware they where going strong. As a ex-member who was there there for 1 yr and 10 months, Sunstone still holds a dear place to me and have met wonderful members and instructors including BodyCombat Instructors who inspired me and i loved their GroupEx classes. It also holds a lot of memories too how Sunstone has helped me through my bad times in the pass when i was going through a rough patch from Jan 2009 – July 2011 where i turned to GroupEx to help get through it and even organize for Sunstone to enter the Cancer Research UK Race for Life in July 2012 and in return to create a much happier and healthier lifestyle for me for the staff, instructors and some members who saw this change happen. It also was a foundation and of my fitness journey and venturing and becoming a Les Mills BodyCombat Instructor.

    However there is a different side to Sunstone too. Since i left as a member in November 2011, Sunstone seem to have changed and started to go down hill from the reposts i get from some of the members i still kept in contact with.

    There has been quite a few problems with Sunstone facilities that I remember when I was a member there like the air con not working, tv not working, old gym equipment that became faulty, sauna/stream room being out of order, heating on full in the changing room, shower facilities not working or out of order, suffocating paint fumes, ill fitted lockers fittings, smelly mats, deflated vibe balls, Technology problems (PC/booking systems) and a lot more i could mention to this list.

    I managed to get a insight of the workings of Sunstone by volunteering to Motivator there and helped them for 10 months and even organizing the Cancer Research Race For Life in June 2012. I actually started to see the pressure that staff where going through to perform their duties and I was pressurized myself by contently being asked to try to sign up members as many as i could, all they cared about was advertising and promoting Sunstone at the event …[Deleted by moderator]… That’s why I decided not to renew my membership. I not surprised why why staff had left due being pressurized or other reasons.

    There was times they needed cover classes like Attack (with Combat) and Combat, but each time i offered my help and services, again i felt i was ‘shunted’. It’s only through another BodyCombat instructor i found out that Sunstone did not want me to come and teach classes there (without a giving me a reason why) and i was devastated and not happy.

    I’m gonna miss the friends i made and the instructors and especially a chance to come back to teach there room but now the end of the era of Sunstone.



  4. Sunstone survivor on Wednesday 18 June 2014 at 13:36

    Gym Bunny is very right – the place was in a very poor state. The showers were constantly broken and staring up at a stained, holey ceiling whilst doing pilates was not very inspiring. The pool was the best bit about the gym but it was pretty shabby. I hope someone takes it over, and I hope I get the few hundred pounds I’m owed back, but not holding my breath on that one.



  5. 4jannah on Wednesday 18 June 2014 at 17:51

    Another one here agreeing with GYMBUNNY and others. The gym was in a bad state… dirty and smelly. Most of the women (including myself) went there because there was no alternative. The price for membership was a joke considering the facilities. I was counting the days till my membership finished so I could try to find something better or work out at home. Now I’m left with 6months worth of membership down the drain… I’m gutted but only because I’ve lost my money.



  6. anarette on Sunday 22 June 2014 at 20:46

    I am very saddened about sunstone closing.I’ve been going there on and off for at least 10 years or more and I think its a unique place.It has a wonderful atmosphere and great staff.I loved the fact that it was women only as Im not particularly interested to hang out with men when I want to relax at the swimming pool .
    I think the above comments are a bit harsh. I didn’t think it was run down or dirty at all. very rarely something wasn’t working but hey, thats life isn’t it?
    I think also you are bad mouthing the owner too much.
    As I’ve said I’ve been going to sunstone for over 10 years and their prices were moderate compared to tother gyms and thats maybe why he was forced to close.
    The beauty section was amazing ,Where can you get a dermalogical facial for £35?
    So as a tribute to a wonderful unique business, I will sorely miss you.



  7. Longest member on Monday 23 June 2014 at 09:32

    I was a member for 20 years. …[Deleted by moderator]… The one thing I had noticed over the last few months is that there seemed to be a burgeoning membership. …[Deleted by moderator]… Don’t give us recession as a reason, Michael. Bog standard houses in Stoke Newington selling now for more than £1m? Two miles from central London? There is a recession, sure, but not among Sunstone gym members. As a friend said ‘Who ever heard of a gym going bust?’ Certainly not as a result of the ‘recession’ in Hackney. …[Deleted by moderator]… The staff have always been fantastic and great to members; I’m so sorry for them.. [Deleted by moderator].



  8. Nocki on Monday 23 June 2014 at 09:41

    I agree with Gym Bunny. The gym was shabby and whenever it was redecorated it was done in the cheapest possible way so that it was soon shabby again.I believe the owner just wanted to make a huge profit. In the 20 years that I went there there was very little spent on new equipment or refurbishment. The reason I went there was because it was 7minutes walk away from my house, it was women only and the actual gym was well equipped. It was relaxed and friendly. I had only just re-joined when I arrived for a workout on Friday to find a notice on the front door saying it was closed. I lost about £400.



  9. Greg on Monday 7 July 2014 at 01:39

    The real story behind the Sunstone liquidation and my personal take on the defamation of my father: http://gregorysinclair.com/my-father-michael-brett-sinclair/



  10. sheniz on Monday 1 September 2014 at 14:43

    This is so sad, would i be able to get a refund. ????



  11. Penny coombes on Monday 12 January 2015 at 08:34

    I was so sorry to hear that sunstone has closed. I was a member in the early days, so can’t comment on recent changes. I moved away in 1996. I have fantastic memories of Sunstone though…. To be honest if it hadn’t been women only i might not have given it a try, and i am so pleased i did. It gave me the confidence to try other gyms but i never found one as good as Sunstone. Sunstone was where i learnt to swim…. Again confidence given by the tutor and gentle women only classes. As a new Mum, in 1993 sunstone was where i met up with friends in the cafe, and got a chance to do yoga for myself while my daughter was happy in the creche, giving me a much needed break and support, and she loved it. Other gyms don’t offer this service. Sunstone was where my daughter learnt confidence in the water in mother / baby classes, and sunstone was where i attended an paediatric first aid course, with some messages and help given that i have always remembered and passed on to other parents over the years ( who knows? Could literally have been a life-saver). I had a major operation in 1994, and it was sunstone i credit with gradually helping me get back to health. During my relationship break – up sunstone gave me somewhere to go to relax and get away from things when i needed space. It was such fond memories that made me look it up today. So sad it has gone, but thank you to the owner and staff for what it was.



  12. Miguel on Tuesday 11 August 2015 at 20:42

    I would employ new readers and those who have already shared their views to consider the fact that it is difficult running a business. Michael Sinclaire is an honourable man and in my view has done his best to manage an already difficult business within a competitive industry. Yes, you may take the view that the facilities were dilapidated and yes, there may have been inconsistencies in the quality of equipment. However I am disappointed at the attitude demonstrated by former staff and members. You should all be ashamed of yourselves! In all strive, hardship, loans, tribulations Michael stuck steadfast while you all would have probably crumbled. Michael Sinclair should be celebrated, not thrashed and bashed.

    Shame on you all!!!



  13. stewart on Monday 27 June 2016 at 09:45

    Interesting comments, hopefully this will happen.



  14. Charlotte Cinalli on Sunday 11 December 2016 at 23:03

    Sunstone sadly was always shabby and memberships and the members team were unusually inflexible . Anyone that tries to run a business in London hats off. I lived next door and felt for the price it wasn’t luxurious enough compared to the chains . However it clearly brought people health happiness and friends and 22 years is a long time tow own a business I’d be gutted to have a negative outcome so stop being mean everyone .

    Charlie . Fleetwood .



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