West Midlands law firm FBC Manby Bowdler LLP has advised Wolverhampton health and fitness firm Firewalker (UK) Limited on the opening of its new FW Fitness gym and health club in Solihull, which will create 12 new jobs.
Charan Thiara, an associate in FBC Manby Bowdler’s Wolverhampton Commercial Property Department, advised Firewalker on obtaining a new 10 year lease on the 7,100 q ft premises in Chelmsley Wood Shopping Centre in north Solihull, which officially opens on 1 August.
Firewalker already operates a large health club, and Children’s Day Nursery, in Salisbury Street in Wolverhampton, and its acquisition of the new premises in Chelmsley Wood is the start of a planned growth programme for the company.
“Chelmsley Wood is an ideal location for our first health centre outside Wolverhampton, as there is no significant competition within a five mile radius. We were also attracted by the proximity of a major supermarket, which improves our footfall,” said Firewalker director Kirkwood Walker.
Mrs Thiara negotiated the lease agreement for Firewalker and advised on the licence for alterations to the premises. The lease negotiations were delayed as the landlord went into administration, but were successfully concluded with the administrators.
She said: “This became a more complex deal due to the administration, but we managed to complete the lease in time for FW Fitness to be up and running in good time before the end of the summer holidays when people start to think about joining a health club.”
With 33 partners, FBC Manby Bowdler is one of the largest law firms in the West Midlands. In addition to Wolverhampton, the firm also has offices in Willenhall, Telford, Shrewsbury and Bridgnorth.
