New Women-Only Gym in Carlisle Unveiled

A New Women’s-Only Gym in Carlisle

A new women’s-only gym is set to open in Carlisle, and the location has finally been revealed. Fitness entrepreneur Amii Haughan, who owns R.W.A Studios, has confirmed that the facility will be based in the former Scotby Cycles building on Church Street.

The site had been kept a secret while anticipation grew, with founding memberships selling out quickly. The building, which was previously used by Scotby Cycles, is now being transformed into a dedicated space for women to work out.

Amii admitted she felt 'nervous' before revealing the location. She said: "I’m so nervous… you just think, what if it’s not what people expected? But it took me so long to get to this point, so I know it’s right."

Phased Development of the Facility

The gym will take over the four-storey building, but the initial focus will be on two floors. Amii explained: "It’s a four-storey building, but we’re going to focus on two floors first and make them unreal. This is phase one for us – we’ll learn what women want and build on that in the future."

The central location was chosen with safety and accessibility in mind. The area is busy, well-lit, and easy to reach, with nearby transport links and parking. The gym is planned to operate 24 hours a day, allowing women to come and go at any time.

A Space Designed for Women

The building is currently a 'bare shell', and work is set to begin transforming the space. Amii said members will be able to follow the journey as it develops. She added: "We’re going to take everyone along for the ride and show what we’re building and why."

Designed entirely with women in mind, the gym will feature top-quality equipment and layout choices aimed at reducing anxiety. Amii, who has worked in gyms throughout her career, explained: "There'll be no harsh spotlights, no awkward layouts. Even little things like not having lights directly over machines where people might feel uncomfortable have been thought about."

Changing rooms will include individual cubicles, and machines will have QR codes linking to video demonstrations. This attention to detail ensures that every aspect of the gym is tailored to the needs of its members.

A Community-Focused Approach

The new site builds on the success of R.W.A Studios, which has been operating at full capacity for more than three years. Amii emphasized that the gym is more than just a place to work out. She said: "It’s not just a gym with equipment – it’s a community. We want women to feel supported, confident and like they belong."

While an opening date has not yet been confirmed, the timeline depends on the progress of the building work. Members can follow the development on social media:

You can also sign up to the wait list here: https://rwa-gymwaitlist.netlify.app/.