Since reopening its doors in August 2025 following a £20 million transformation, move Altrincham has been winning over members of all ages and backgrounds. We spoke to three regulars about how the state-of-the-art leisure centre has made a real difference to their lives.
For a facility that only reopened a few months ago, move Altrincham has wasted no time in building a loyal community.
Located on Oakfield Road in the heart of Altrincham, the centre has been transformed from a dilapidated building into something that genuinely rivals private health clubs - yet at a fraction of the cost. With a 100-station gym, pools, spa, studio classes and more all under one roof, it is clearly striking a chord with local residents.
We caught up with three very different members to find out what keeps them coming back - sometimes every single day.
Recardo Patrick: 'It feels more like a personal gym'
Recardo Patrick is not your average gym-goer. The former lead singer of Sweet Sensation - whose debut single Sad Sweet Dreamer topped the charts in 1974 - has spent decades performing alongside the likes of Prince, Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson.
He also owns 17 restaurants across the north west and beyond, including Hale favourite Riva and the acclaimed Meraki in London.
These days, though, much of his focus is on his health, and move Altrincham has become central to that routine.
Recardo visits the gym five days a week and his dedication is remarkable. Diagnosed with Paget's disease of bone sixteen years ago - a condition affecting the way bone tissue is replaced - he has committed himself to a rigorous regime that he credits with keeping the condition in remission ever since. He trains for a minimum of three hours a day, follows an alkaline diet, fasts for 17 hours a day, and begins each morning with prayer and meditation.
"High-impact exercise is good for my bones," he explains. "From reading research and speaking to professors and doctors, I believe that weights and cardio help the condition not relapse - and it has stayed in remission for 16 years." He splits his time between Altrincham - where he has lived for 25 years - Ibiza and the Austrian Alps, but when he is in the UK, move Altrincham is where you will find him.
What has impressed him most is the atmosphere. Having previously been a member of the Mere Country Club - 10 times more expensive, he notes - he finds move Altrincham a more genuine and welcoming environment.
"It's not a big, open, impersonal space like a factory," he says. "It feels more like a personal gym than a public council gym. I love the design, the lighting, the music - and the staff are incredible."
Fiona Lockyer: 'The instructors are outstanding'
Fiona Lockyer, 62, is a retired hotel general manager who now works as a marriage registrar and barista at Costa. She lives in Timperley and visits move Altrincham an impressive five or six times a week - fitting in as many as eight or nine classes in a single week.
But her journey to becoming one of the centre's most committed members was not straightforward.
Fiona first came to move Altrincham following a referral from her GP, with a need to improve her overall health and find renewed fitness purpose.
She was welcomed by the referral team, who helped her navigate the facilities and recommended various activities to try. She had to pause her membership when she received a serious health diagnosis, but as soon as she was able, she returned - and has since upgraded to a full membership.
It is the studio classes that Fiona has made her own: body pump, strength training, yoga, dance and Zumba all feature in her weekly schedule, and she supplements these with cardio sessions in the gym to support her running (she also took up park running last year).
The quality of instruction has been key to her commitment. "The classes are led by outstanding teachers who are clear and kind and lead engaging, fun sessions," she says.
For Fiona, the value for money is also a major draw. With her full membership giving her access to so many classes each week, the cost per session works out to very little - and the overall offer she receives feels genuinely exceptional.
Nicholas Ryan: 'Can't fault it'
Nicholas Ryan is a retired Altrincham resident who visits the centre twice a week for swimming and AMRAP - a circuit training format that stands for 'as many rounds as possible.'
A man of few but well-chosen words, his summary of move Altrincham is as efficient as one of his workouts: "Can't fault it."
Digging a little deeper, he praises the affordable pricing, the quality of the equipment and the spaciousness of the environment.
He highlights the helpfulness and knowledge of the staff on the gym floor, and the enthusiasm of the instructors leading his classes. He values the variety of activities on offer and the simplicity of the booking system - the TWMove app, which allows members and pay-as-you-go visitors to reserve spaces up to five days in advance.
For Nick, what sets move Altrincham apart is the combination of a world-class facility - the gym alone features 100 stations of top-of-the-range Technogym equipment - with the accessible, community-minded feel of a local leisure centre.
move Altrincham is at Oakfield Road, Altrincham, WA15 8EW. Visit twmove.co.uk for membership options, class timetables and more information.
