Stephanie Mindel and Ian Raxton, members of the YMCA jujitsu club

THE world’s very first YMCA has announced its closure and sale leaving members blindsided and staff concerned about their jobs at Christmas.

The Central YMCA, which opened in 1844, has been at its current site in Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, since 1977.

The YMCA has said it has been forced to shut because of “soaring site maintenance costs” and “demographic changes in the city centre”.

The gym remains the largest in London with a 25-metre swimming pool, a sauna, steam room, exercise studios and a cycling studio.

Members of the club have been shocked by the sudden announcement on Monday, telling the New Journal they feel “blindsided” there has been no consultation with members about the closure of the space.

Stephen Adshead a member for more than 10 years, said: “As I understand it there was no consultation with members or staff prior to this. It came as a complete surprise to everybody.

“If they get rid of it, that provision won’t be replaced. I think there’s just been a lack of imagination and surprise from the trustees who haven’t supported the business.

“They haven’t supported the operation of the gym and club as they should have, and therefore it’s fallen into this situation. Whereas someone with a more can-do attitude probably could have sorted it out.”

Inside the YMCA which first opened in 1844

Julian Bremner, who has run the Ishigaki Jujitsu club in the YMCA since the pandemic, said he would now struggle to find a big enough venue to accommodate his 50-plus members.

He said: “This continual closing of sporting facilities in and around London is just being compounded by this sort of thing, because there’s very few venues left.

“My heart bleeds for the members of staff in the run-up to Christmas. What a great time of year to discover your place of work is closing. “Some members of staff I have spoken to don’t seem to know what is happening or have been told not to say, but one way or another what a horrible thing to happen.”

While the YMCA has not officially said what the future plans for the space are, staff and members have told the New Journal that the hotel which is currently on site will take over the space. There has already been opposition to the closure from the community who have started a petition to reverse the YMCA’s decision (www.change. org/p/save-central-ymca-club), as well as opposition from Camden councillors.

The site in Great Russell Street

Bloomsbury ward councillor Adam Harrison told the New Journal: “It’s still early to say really but people will want that leisure space protected and the swimming pool protected and that’s something the council will be looking at.”

In a statement Ryan Palmer, chief executive of the YMCA, said: “With demographic changes in the city centre; the ageing of the club building and accessibility and spacing issues; changes to health & wellbeing practices, and soaring site maintenance costs, it has become clear that the cost of operations at the club are now not being covered by the number of members the club can sustain. I am sincerely grateful to everyone who has contributed to the club over the years.

“Our priority now is our club members and staff, and we will continue to support them in any way we can.”