Hat-trick of top awards for 'outstanding' South Tyneside gym
‘It’s great to have some recognition for all of the work that the team is doing.’
A South Tyneside gym is celebrating after picking up a third prestigious award of 2026.
38 Fitness Gym, based on Ellison Street at the Viking Centre in Jarrow, has been named as Best Affordable Boutique-Style Gym 2026: Tyne & Wear at the Business Elite Awards for 2026.
The awards are run by SME News, an organisation which “recognise(s) the hard work and dedication of small and medium-sized enterprises from across the United Kingdom”.
A year of awards
Earlier this year the gym was named as Retail, Hospitality & Leisure Business of the Year at the Best of South Tyneside 2026 awards.
Then in September the Gazette reported on their Prestige Awards Fitness Club of the Year 2026 gong, which will be collected at a ceremony in Leeds in December.
38 Fitness Gym is now invited to another black tie award ceremony, this time in Carlisle on April 23 next year where staff will collect their prize “after careful consideration” from the judges.
‘Special’
The Gym’s owners, Dean Crouch and James Barnes are delighted with their latest honour.
Dean told the Gazette: “The judges said that it was due to the service that South Tyneside is receiving from the team.
“I think we’re going to take the whole team. We all went to the Best of South Tyneside Awards except for James who was on holiday at the time. This time it’s going to be all of us.
“To be recognised for the exceptional work that the team has done in 2026 with our third award is special.
“We’re really proud to be part of the South Tyneside community and it’s great to have some recognition for all of the work that the team is doing to deliver health services here.”
Over £40,000 has been raised by the club in the last four years for a string of charities.
In August, boxers who use the club threw a million punches in under 100 hours to raise £1,500 for the Jarrow Boxing Club, a not-for-profit organisation which helps people of all ages to stay fit, meet new people and exercise in a safe environment.
The boxing club is also based at the gym.