Ben & Dave from The Foundry
Voted one of the best gyms in the world, The Foundry the place #WhereTheStrongBelong was created by Ben Gotting and Dave Thomas to offer the opportunity to train like a professional athlete in a team environment.
What inspired you to open The Foundry?
We were introduced through a mutual rugby friend and felt we could work well together. Ben was running an outdoor boot camp for women, which was aimed at empowering them via strength-based exercises and Dave had his own gym company. We started running outdoor bootcamps in fields covered in goose poo on Saturday mornings, but before long we got so busy that we needed a venue. With a lot of luck (and even more graft) - we found one in Vauxhall.
What’s The Foundry’s mission?
The Foundry’s ethos in encapsulated in our call to action "Where The Strong Belong". This is an attitude, not a description. Our job is to ensure every aspect of the business empowers our community to become stronger in mind, body and spirit. We’re not interested in short term Instagram ready images, we work hard with our clients to create a sustainable lifestyle and overall health and happiness.
Describe the community at The Foundry?
Because of our strong focus on inclusivity, our community really does range from unemployed individuals to CEOs and celebrities. We are proud to have created non-threatening environments with world class coaches and a fun vibe.
What does community mean to you?
You can't force community. There's no algorithm or formula. You can only create a positive, inclusive environment that mirrors the founders and their values and then pass the keys to the incredible people you attract.
How does community influence a fitness journey?
We find members love feeling that are giving others a helping hand. They become coaches in their own right and we know how good that feels.
Head to The Foundry for classes and small group personal training, delivered by world class coaches in a welcoming environment with a focus on strength. You’ll find them in Vauxhall, Bank and Old Street. Sign up here to discover #WhereTheStrongBelong.
