Though its opening date remains frustratingly in doubt for both its owners and potential clients due to COVID-19 restrictions, Snap Fitness is busy promoting membership of its new gym in the upper storey of the Curve on Telegraph Road and the Mount.

It will be good to see new life breathed into the space formerly occupied by Taskers home improvements, and empty since January 2018 when the company got into difficulties and restructured its business.

It's an intriguing, challenging and brave time to launch a gym. Even when lockdown restrictions are eased and gyms are allowed to open, it remains to be seen how quickly people will feel comfortable in such an environment.

Over the past ten months people have also got used to exercising outdoors and, with spring and summer on the way, it might be hard to get them back inside.

What's more, Advanced Fitness, on Telegraph Road above Costa, described itself as a state of the art fitness suite, but ran out of puff a year ago and is now empty.

And just a few minutes away, in Thornton Hough, is the Thornton Hall Hotel and Spa, complete with its own gym and pool.

However, the Snap Fitness model may have what it takes to cope with the future.

It will be open 24 hours a day, meaning gym goers can calculate which times of day or night work best if they want to exercise in relative privacy, or have work and life styles that don't suit more regular opening times.

Members will be able to gain access whenever they want, and leave their cars on the Curve's elevated parking area.

Apart from 24/7 opening, what else Snap offers is pretty much what you'd expect: free classes for members; an Olympic weights section; a dedicated spin studio; a training area; and a large range of cardio machines.

Would be members who prefer a less strenuous health regime might be pleased to be reminded that, if the proposed Weatherspoon pub opposite the gym comes to pass, it will be possible to burn off 300 calories and then go across the road and drink 2000 of them.

To find out more about Snap Fitness Heswall, click or tap here.