Tuesday January 27th 2026
JD Sports gym, Westside Plaza in Wester Hailes
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Joe Sullivan
Edinburgh gym bosses have explained themselves to councillors after running 24 hours a day without permission.
Monday’s licensing committee meeting heard that the JD Sports gym in Westside Plaza, Wester Hailes, had been running through the night despite being required to close at 10pm.
Council public safety staff added that some 27 safety issues had been discovered during an unannounced inspection of the property, and had therefore objected to a licence renewal.
But safety boss David Sinclair said the firm had remedied most of the issues by the time the licensing meeting was held – and therefore had his service drop the objection.
Licensing solicitor Catherine Loudon was present in the room, representing the firm, while JD Gym Group property director Darren Pallet attended remotely.
Ms Loudon told councillors: “We are immensely grateful for Mr Sinclair’s team working so closely with us to address matters.
“I would hope everyone would agree that Darren has jumped to it, as he’s needed to.
Mr Pallet said: “In regards to the 24/7 operation, it was borne from naivete around the details of our public entertainment licence, and an incorrect understanding we had of it.
“As soon as we were made aware of [the various issues], we ceased trading 24/7 and implemented a very prompt action plan on the items Mr Sinclair found on the site visit.”
Ms Loudon added that the firm had put forward an application to allow the gym to trade 24/7.
Labour councillor Margaret Graham asked what assurances the firm could provide that the issues would not repeat themselves.
Mr Pallet replied: “This is a very serious matter for us that has been raised at board level in the business, with myself taking ownership of this going forward.
“We’re going to have another application coming to committee for another site in Edinburgh, learning we have gained painfully will be taken going forward.”
Conservative councillor and committee convener Joanna Mowat asked what plans would be put in place to actually keep things from happening again.
Mr Pallet said that extensive measures were being implemented, including monthly audits, as well as an annual staff training in December – with an additional one conducted this month.
Cllr Mowat continued: “We’ve heard from public safety that they’ve withdrawn their objection because the items they’ve found have been addressed.
“This is a renewal of an existing licence 6am to 10pm. So given we have no objection I think we’re really mandated to grant this licence.
“I expect officers to ensure learning has come out of this incident – because it’s not being compliant one day out of the year, you need to be compliant 365 days out of the year.”
Councillors granted the licence renewal.
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