Christchurch fitness members are facing another change in the local group training scene, with BFT studios set to close later this month following the earlier shutdown of the Victoria Street branch. Members were reportedly told final classes at Ferrymead would run through Friday 26 June, while the Riccarton location is also understood to be closing.

BFT, or Body Fit Training, operates high-intensity group fitness studios across New Zealand and internationally. Its Christchurch presence has been part of a broader shift toward class-based training, where members pay for structured sessions, coaching, and a strong sense of community rather than traditional open-gym access.

The closure notice to Ferrymead members described the news as hard to share and thanked members, trainers and staff for building a studio community. Members were told billing would continue until the final week and then stop automatically. The director of Better Training 4 Limited, which operates the Christchurch BFT studios, declined further comment when approached.

The closures are significant because fitness studios often become more than places to exercise. For many members, they are routine anchors, friendship networks and mental-health supports. Former members quoted in the report described disappointment for staff and members across the clubs, including Victoria Street, which had already closed last year.

For the wider Christchurch fitness market, the news raises questions about operating costs, franchise models, member expectations and how boutique fitness brands hold community trust through difficult periods. Whether BFT returns under another operator or members move to other local gyms, the immediate impact will be felt by trainers, staff and regulars who built their weekly rhythm around the studios.