We've brought a 'healthy nightclub' to Sunderland with our new boutique fitness studios
It’s seen a major transformation of a former restaurant site which had stood empty for years.
You can take your fitness up a gear at the city’s newest ‘healthy nightclub’ which combines a range of workouts with nightclub-style lighting and high-energy dance music.
ARV is the first business to open as part of Sunniside Social, a new leisure hub being created in the stretch of buildings in High Street West which comprised the likes of Frankie & Benny’s and Infinity Pizza.
Inspired by the type of boutique fitness studios you more commonly see in big cities like London and Sydney, ARV has seen a total transformation of the corner unit which once housed buffet restaurants Louie Louie and Dozo.
Named after her initials, ARV was founded by instructor Anna Rhodes-Voza and her husband Raf Voza who met in a gym in Sydney.
They brought their shared passion for high-energy boutique fitness back to Raf’s home city of Sunderland, opening the first ARV in the basement of The Yard at the former Gilbridge Police Station in 2024.
Demand for their vibrant brand of wellness meant they soon outgrew the space and the new home means they’ve extended their offering from just reformer pilates to also include Infrared sessions for high intensity mat and barre activities in a heated room and a Rave studio where you can take on interval running and strength sessions in a nightclub-style room.
Other new additions at the class-led studios include a recovery suite with ice bath and sauna, a Rage studio for boxing and strength sessions and an additional reformer studio using larger equipment, as well as shower rooms.
There’s also an ARV cafe open to non-members, as well as members, for a range of matcha, coffees, shakes, yoghurt bowls and more.
“I can’t believe we have this space now,” said Anna. “We actually first discussed this back in 2020 in Australia and now we are here. We believe there’s nothing else like this in the North East.”
Anna had built up a strong client base at the previous ARV reformer pilates studio in The Yard and all existing members have all moved to the new site.
“I jumped on the chance to open at The Yard because the space was so cool, but I couldn’t grow there,” explained Anna. “Once the classes were full, there was only so many we could offer.
“My goal was always to have lots of different formats because that’s how I like to train. Me and Raf met in an MMA gym and we’re both into boxing so we knew that was definitely something we wanted to incorporate. We’ve launched with 80 classes a week and that will soon rise to 100.”
She added: “The idea is that it’s like a healthy nightclub where people can work out in an immersive room with loud, high-energy music. It really maximises your endorphins and people get a real high from the exercise.
“They can then sit and socialise in the cafe.”
Last year, Sunderland City Council unveiled its plans for Sunniside Social, which will eventually house a hub of leisure business with a new facade and streetscape improvements. It’s also been announced that My Delhi will relocate to the former Frankie & Benny’s with more trader announcements expected.
Speaking about what appealed about the area, Anna said: “We had the vision of what we wanted before we found a space, so it was then a case of finding a space and seeing how we could make that work.
“When we saw this space, despite it still being full of equipment from its time as a Chinese restaurant, we knew we could make it work. We also like what’s happening in the wider Sunniside area, it’s cool to be part of that regeneration.”
Raf added: “It’s such an exciting time for this area, especially with the new cinema and the fantastic businesses at Mackie’s Corner and the new homes that are being built.
“I actually remember coming here when it was Louie Louie and never thought I’d be where I am now.”
Raf said it’s been great to see the regeneration of his home city and added: “It was really important to work with and incorporate local business in creating this new space. For example we worked with locally-based Worthy Wax to create a signature ARV scent in each of our rooms.
“I must say that working with the council has been amazing, too,” said Anna. “Danielle Coffer is their assets manager and has been so helpful. All the people we’ve dealt with have been so kind and it’s made this a much nicer experience.”
ARV, which has created 28 jobs, is a membership studio with members paying for a set number of classes, with prices starting from £119 a month for eight classes.
The studio side is now open for members with class information here: https://www.arvstudios.com/
Anyone can use the ARV cafe, which opens from Friday, September 4.