Almost a dozen fitness and activity businesses who were sub-letting studios from Ignite Studios at Rock Health – the former Guernsey Bowl site in Victoria Avenue – had been desperately trying to find new homes over the Christmas period after eviction notices were served that week.
Now the prospective new owners of the building on Victoria Avenue, Neil and Faye Lomax, have launched what they have described as a ‘Community Bridge’ support package for the local businesses, clubs and groups who sub-let space at the facility, granting all affected sub-tenants a licence to stay in their current spaces rent-free until 31 March.
The couple said they were due to buy the building later this month with the vision of creating a new multi-sport arena for Guernsey.
‘We refuse to let this building’s next chapter begin with local businesses being left in the cold through no fault of their own,’ said Mr Lomax.
‘By providing this three-month rent-free period, we are giving these clubs time to find permanent new homes on their own terms. Furthermore, we are committed to being flexible – if our construction schedule allows for a longer transition period past March, we will extend that stay to ensure every club successfully finds a new home.’
Ignite Studios let out space to other operators on a flexible basis, but in a statement the Lomaxes said that this had proved to be unsustainable, resulting in non-payment of rent and substantial arrears.
They added that the current owners, Rock Health, had attempted to work with Ignite to try to find a way forward and avoid evictions, but the situation had become untenable.
Directors of Ignite could not be contacted yesterday.
But the Guernsey Press spoke to several of its tenants after the news broke. Becky Bailey from Ace Elite Cheerleaders said the news of the new ‘Community Bridge’ support package had come too late.
‘I think it’s a bit late now – people have started packing up and looking for new places,’ she said. ‘We would have to unpack it all again and repack three months down the line when we will be in the same position,’
‘It’s been hard finding somewhere with high enough ceilings for cheerleaders and at this time of year. A couple have got back to us now, we just need to finalise the numbers and see. Now all of a sudden this comes out because of the Press and the coverage, but I just think it’s just too late.’
Anna Petts, head coach of Island Gymnastics, said she was not sure how to react to the statement.
‘I don’t know enough but it’s a little too late for us,’ she said.
‘It is highly unlikely we will take up the offer, we have found a temporary home for Island Gymnastics. We can’t give details right now but hope to announce something soon. We have spent the whole of Christmas trying to find a solution and our main concern is that our members have somewhere to practise.’
However Jimmy Lesbirel from Jackal Boxfit said that the offer to stay at the site relieved some of the pressure he had been facing.
‘After a really, really tough couple of weeks, the offer has relieved some pressure and I am grateful in that respect, but this all could have been prevented,’ he said.
‘I am disappointed in the reason we got evicted.’
Mr Lesbirel said it had been difficult to find somewhere new to run his business from.
‘It’s been very difficult. Fortunately, there are some very good individuals who have tried to help, but I haven’t found anything permanent yet,’ he said.
The Lomaxes’ acquisition of the Rock Health site is due to complete on Tuesday 20 January 2026. The locally-based couple said this would signal the start of a multimillion-pound investment to transform the facility into a premier wellness and community destination.
The redeveloped site will feature the expansion of Guernsey Pilates as its flagship wellness offering. Additionally, a significant portion of the building will be transformed into a high-spec multi-sport arena designed to host a variety of athletic pursuits and live events, ‘providing a unique cultural and sporting hub for the island’.
Structural surveys are currently under way, with a phased fit-out of the new facility expected to start shortly.
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