Michel Kuipers has secured a first for Brighton.

The former Albion No.1 is part of the team behind PHX Gym in Hollingbury.

They have completely refurbished what used to be police premises at Sussex House in Crowhurst Road and given them a fresh new look.

The gym has been specially designed to be Covid-secure.

And the ex-goalkeeper says that makes it a groundbreaking exercise – just a five-minute drive from the Amex.

Kuipers said: “Brighton has been crying out for a mega-gym like this so we planned this in the last few months.

“It is just under 12,000 square feet. We’ve got over 70 machines, two running tracks, a big cardio area, a studio, hairdressers’, a physio room, sunbed. It caters for everybody, from beginners to experienced trainers.

“I always wanted to set up a gym because I have always been into keeping fit.

“We are five minutes from the Amex, there is free local parking, a big supermarket, a lot of people around here who are looking for somewhere to go and train.

“One of the things to help counteract Covid is to stay healthy and exercise regularly. For us it was perfect timing.”

That might seem a curious thing to say given gyms up and down the country were closed for months due to the pandemic until recently.

But Kuipers says PHX have been able to plan to cope with the virus.

He said: “We had the designer from Panatta gym equipment down for three days and he designed our gym to be Covid-secure.

“All the machines are facing away from each other. You will always work out back-to-back.

“We are the very first official Panatta gym in the UK and we are also by the looks of it the very first specifically Covid-secure designed gym.

“We have experienced staff who have been working in the fitness industry for many years.

“The advice on training, nutrition and rehabilitation is all under one roof.

“It doesn’t matter if you have never been to the gym because you can book up with one of our experienced trainers to start off your training regime.

“Or you can be an experienced trainer competing, we also have those sorts of people to give support.

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“I have trained at many gyms across the world and this is the best.”

Kuipers hopes to get involved with Albion In The Community and has quickly built up a following of members and day visitors.

More details can be found at phxgym.co.uk.