Gymbox founder seeks buyers for £60 million deal

The founder of the Gymbox fitness chain — which calls itself the “antidote to boring gyms” — is sounding out would-be buyers over a deal that could value the business at £60 million, the Evening Standard understands.

Gymbox, set up in 2001 by former advertising executive Richard Hilton in 2001, has shaken up the gym scene with DJ sets for its members and a host of classes including Ninja Warrior, Ghetto Zumba and Muay Thai boxing. It now has eight gyms in London and in 2009 caused a furore after offering classes in “chav fighting” and “bitch boxing”.

Jamie Laing of reality TV series Made in Chelsea recently helped launch Drift Compass, a wearable camera, at a London Gymbox.

Sources said that Hilton is looking to sell a major chunk of the company following a deal two years ago in which he sold a minority stake to the Government’s Business Growth Fund for £10 million.

The company declined to comment on the sale.