Ballymoney's Forge Female Fitness is crowned Ladies Gym of the Year UK

Forge Female Fitness has been officially crowned Ladies Gym of the Year UK at the prestigious National Fitness Awards, the largest and most respected awards event in the UK fitness industry.

The ceremony took place on November 28 in Leicester, celebrating excellence, impact and innovation across gyms, studios and fitness businesses nationwide.

In addition to taking home the top national title, Forge Female Fitness was also shortlisted as a finalist for Regional Gym of the Year for Scotland and Ireland, a testament to the exceptional standards delivered by the studio every single day.

The National Fitness Awards, now in their 15th year, recognise outstanding achievement across the sector, with thousands of entries submitted from across the UK. Judging focuses on community impact, innovation, coaching quality, member experience and measurable results, all areas where Forge consistently excels.

This victory also marks a stunning milestone for the Meetinghouse Street studio – their 14th major award in just two years, cementing Forge as the most decorated female health studio in Northern Ireland, and the UK.

Forge began nine years ago as Forge Personal Training, run from a small back room in founder Grace Smith’s mum’s house: one coach, one client and one mission – to build a safe, real and compassionate space for women who were tired of gimmicks, judgement and confusion in the fitness industry.

From that small ‘acorn’ idea, the giant oak of Forge Female Fitness has grown.

Founder Grace Smith said: “Forge Female Fitness has become Northern Ireland’s largest female health and wellness studio, a powerhouse highly decorated female coaching team specialising in women’s health at every life stage, has a supportive community of hundreds across Northern Ireland and worldwide, is the only female gym in Ireland with a qualified mental health practitioner on staff and now, officially, is the Ladies Gym of the Year for the entire United Kingdom.

“This win is emotional for all of us. Nine years ago Forge was just an idea in a back room. To stand on a national stage and hear our name announced as Ladies Gym of the Year UK was overwhelming, in the best possible way.

"This award represents every woman who has walked through our doors, our outstanding team of coaches who pour their heart into each member every day, and every person who has believed in what Forge stands for.

"It also marks our 14th major award in two years, which is surreal. We’ve grown from a tiny start-up to Northern Ireland’s leading women’s studio, and now a UK leader in women’s health. I’m incredibly proud, grateful and excited for what comes next.”

Forge paid tribute to their coaching team, whose dedication, skill and care underpin the studio’s success and to every member who continues to shape the Forge community into something powerful, supportive and life-changing.

One Forge Female Fitness member said: “This is so well deserved on every level for the coaching team and gym. We have absolutely amazing coaches, who have helped change all of our lives and go above and beyond each day to help us reach our goals and feel at our best.”