The venue within the former Guernsey Bowl site – described as ‘Guernsey’s first purpose-built studio space for self-employed instructors’ – served eviction notices to at least 10 businesses and clubs at the beginning of Christmas week, informing them they had to vacate the premises by Friday 9 January.
Among those believed to be affected are Island Gymnastics, Ace Elite Cheer, Starlight Dance, Jackalboxfit, Majorettes, B Creative Dance, Jujitsu, GYBDC, Cheshire Dramatic Arts and Baby College.
It is understood that as leaseholder, Ignite Studios was acting on the instructions of the building’s owners, UK-based Rock Health.
Becky Bailey from Ace Elite Cheerleaders said she had only learned of the eviction on Monday 22 December.
‘I got a voicemail from one of the directors at Ignite telling me we had to be out by the ninth,’ she said.
‘It was a complete shock. It appears the owners who Ignite lease from have decided to sell.’
The cheerleaders share their space with Island Gymnastics and Miss Bailey said that its head coach, Anna Petts, had written to all States deputies about the situation.
‘So many people who run these clubs, including myself, are basically out of work,’ she said.
‘And all those kids and adults who rely on us will have nowhere to go.’
As Miss Bailey only found out about the eviction after the club had paused for the festive season, the club does not have any lessons scheduled before the eviction date.
Said she had spent Christmas desperately trying to find her cheerleading school a new home.
‘I’ve sent out at least 30 emails, but as you can imagine it’s Christmas and I’ve had just two replies saying that buildings weren’t suitable,’ she said.
‘We need somewhere tall as we are cheerleaders we can’t do anything with low ceilings.
‘We are going to a competition in the UK in June and we can’t pull out. We are in desperate need for help to re-home us and the others that are at Ignite. I’d love to hear from anywhere that could help.’
The former Guernsey Bowl in St Sampson’s closed in 2017 and was sold in early 2020 for nearly £2.5m.
Rock Health and neighbouring Anytime Fitness opened at a similar time in 2021.
Anytime Fitness wrote to customers last week explaining that it was unaffected by the Ignite developments.
‘Our club is not impacted, not closing, and not being asked to vacate the premises,’ it said.
The Guernsey Press attempted to contact Ignite Studios and Rock Health but had not received a response at the time of going to print.
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