TV star Steph McGovern and renowned personal trainer David Fairlamb, co-found new fitness studio.
Located in the Jesmond area of Newcastle, ClimbAhub is a newly established fitness studio dedicated entirely to a high-intensity workout built around the VersaClimber machine, a vertical climbing simulator that delivers a full-body cardio and strength session in a compact, exciting format.
ClimbAhub’s mission is to bring one of the most efficient and effective workouts available to the UK in a stand-alone, specialised environment. Every session at ClimbAhub revolves around the same objective: maximise results in minimal time.
‘I’ve had terrific success using the VersaClimber machine at my gym in North Shields,’ said David Fairlamb. ‘It’s proved to be one of the most popular classes that I have…and one of the people who enjoyed attending was Steph McGovern.
She always made a beeline for the VersaClimber classes because she immediately saw the benefits of using it.
‘One day, I was discussing with Steph the idea of setting-up a purpose-built facility which would allow people to enjoy the VersaClimbers in a unique surrounding. She liked the idea so much that she wanted to invest. It’s taken a couple of years to bring our dream to fruition, but we’re delighted with the result. It’s fantastic.’
The VersaClimber is at the heart of ClimbAhub’s workout philosophy. This machine mimics the action of climbing, engaging the arms, legs, and core all at once.
Because it is low-impact and joint-friendly, yet demands your full body’s effort, it can burn up to three times more calories than traditional cardio machines like treadmills or ellipticals, all within a 30-minute session.
Each class is instructor-led, which means you have a qualified coach guiding you through your workout, setting the pace, and offering encouragement or modifications for different fitness levels. The 30-minute duration is intentional: it’s meant to fit into a busy lifestyle without sacrificing intensity.
“Unlike a typical fitness class, we’ve made ClimbAhub a more immersive and energetic environment. Lighting and music are integrated as part of the workout experience, giving sessions a nightclub-meets-gym feel. Participants can even use silent headphone technology so that they hear the instructor and music clearly without external noise distractions.
This emphasis on atmosphere isn’t just for show…it’s designed to keep motivation high throughout the session. For many people, especially those who find traditional cardio monotonous, the combination of beats, lights, and coaching makes the workout feel more like a fun event than a chore.’
ClimbAhub is ideal for a broad range of fitness levels. Whether you’re a seasoned athlete or new to structured exercise, instructors tailor efforts so everyone gets a strong workout without feeling overwhelmed. VersaClimber’s adjustable nature means that each participant can choose their own pace while still moving in sync with the class.
‘Because the classes are for 30 minutes, it means a session is easy to fit into everyone’s lifestyle…early morning, lunch break, after work etc. It’s much more flexible than something like an hour-plus gym session.
‘It’s also why we’ve made attending ClimbAhub as accessible as possible. There are no membership requirements…no signing-up fees…we use a pay-as-you-go system…there’s even a £10 introductory session so that you can come along to Jesmond and try a ClimbAhub session for yourself. From then on, it’s either £15 for a single class, or you can bulk buy sessions which are £70 for 5 classes or £130 for 10 classes. You can book either via our website or by downloading the Glofox app. We’ll be launching our own app very shortly.’
ClimbAhub is also a bit of a family affair for David because his wife, Karen, runs the coffee and smoothie bar where you can grab a post workout healthy drink or a coffee if you are passing by, and his daughter Georgia is lead instructor.
‘We are the only gym in the UK to custom design a VersaClimber Hub, optimised for sound and lighting…in other words, it’s a unique, exclusive, healthy experience.’
Steph McGovern and David Fairlamb…helping you climb your way to fitness and a healthy lifestyle.
For more details, you can contact David and his team on info@climbahub.co.uk or simply call into ClimbAhub at 261 Jesmond Rd, Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 1LB
We’d also point in the direction of his excellent website www.climbahub.co.uk