The Circle of nightlife reaches end of its cycle

Plans revealed for new gym studio at abandoned site of former celebrity hotspot

- DIANNE BOURNE

ONCE Manchester's most exclusive private members bar, the infamous Circle club now lays derelict beneath the streets of the city.

But the basement club is about to get a new lease of life - with plans to transform the space into a new boutique gym.

Leeds-based Ryde Studios is aiming to bring its high-energy cycle classes and boutique-style gym to the venue.

It hopes to be opening in September at the site after a full renovation.

The underground space beneath the historic Barton Arcade off Deansgate became private members club The Circle back in 2001.

It would go on to dominate the social scene for the following 11 years, welcoming in footballers, celebrities and superstars.

It lay empty for a couple of years after shutting in 2013, before being taken over by Be At One bar in 2016.

Despite a renovation of the space, it closed during the pandemic, and has since opened a new site across the road on Deansgate instead.

It has left the former Circle club as an empty shell, including the former "Inner Circle" V-VIP room in the basement.