Family of former Mr Universe Eddy Ellwood have second business closed for opening during lockdown

Strongman Mr Ellwood’s Xtreme Fitness gym, in Hartlepool, was served with a three-month closure order earlier this month following a joint council and police investigation.

Now Ellwoods Gym, in Windsor Terrace, Horden, which is owned by his father, has received a similar order at a separate hearing.

Both must now remain closed until beyond the anticipated April 12 reopening date for gyms nationwide.

Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court was told on February 24 that a total of 34 fixed penalty notices were issued to people inside the Horden premises during visits by Durham Police and Durham County Council on January 21 and February 10.

Steve Buston, who applied for the closure order on behalf of the council, said the incidents had resulted in “serious nuisance to the members of the public”.

But Eddy’s brother, Karl Ellwood, who currently runs the business on behalf of his father, insisted there had been no complaints locally and that users had only congregated there for a “peaceful protest” against lockdown restrictions.

Eddy, giving evidence at the latest hearing, added: “People have the right to demonstrate peacefully and governments should abide by international law.”

But District Judge Helen Cousins, approving the closure order, said: "The right to protest is one of the fundamental human rights. But it is qualified and can be interfered with if it is proportionate and necessary and if it is in the interests of public safety.”

Ordering the business to pay £1,819 costs, she added: “They have travelled to the gym, they were mixing with each other, they potentially took the virus in and took it out again. They are a nuisance to the public.”

Eddy Ellwood, who was Mr Universe between 1997-2001, called the verdict “totally disproportionate” and added afterwards: “We will have to abide by it because it means large fines and jail if we don’t.”

The case follows just over a fortnight after Hartlepool Borough Council, working with Cleveland Police, secured a closure order at Teesside Magistrates’ Court against Eddy Ellwood’s Xtreme Fitness gym, on Hartlepool's Longhill Industrial Estate, after it also allowed users to exercise during the ongoing lockdown.

This prevents the premises from reopening until May 10.

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