Follow the Build
Follow the Build
February 11, 2022
FINISHED - OUR Open Day for ProKick Gym was on Sunday 31st July 2022 - 2pm-4pm. The brand new ProKick gym is here! An attractive and iconic shared space that is accessible to all in the community has arrived on your doorstep. This page will inform you and our ProKick members to how the development went in brief over the last SIX years from #ReBuildProKick -to- #ProKickReBuilt - The green light has been given for our new state of the art facility at Laburnum Street, East Belfast. Situated less than a half a mile away from the current Wilgar Street premises, there will be little difference regarding the location but a stark contrast in the facilities when completed!
The building contractors William Rogers Construction were appointed in 2021 - Pictured here WRC meeting the rest of the design team on-site.
It's been over 30 Years in the making - The journey towards a new gym has been years in the making, initial plans were to stay on the Wilgar Street site and refurbish alongside Dundela Football club, that was back in 2003, however, unfortunately this fell through after years of planning.
In March 2016, ProKick discovered the vision of the Urban Villages Initiative for East Belfast to “do more with what we’ve got in order to foster positive community identities, to build community capacity and to improve the physical environment.” This resonated with Billy Murray and the ProKick team, thus meetings were scheduled, case studies were written and business plans drawn up alongside the UV team. Now with the premises bought, the new gym at Laburnum Street will allow the work of ProKick to develop significantly and impact more and more people in the community.
“We have waited a long time for this, for our members and for the community. After a lot of hard work, I am delighted that the dream can now become a reality. While we will all miss the infamous tin hut, it is time to move on and create something new and exciting for the future. There are so many people to thank, whom have helped us to this point, we honestly are truly grateful to you all.” Added Billy Murray.
Sunday 31st July 2022 and the doors of the brand new state of the art ProKick gym opened for the first time in Laburnum Street, East Belfast. The project has been over 5 years in the making and anticipation levels were through the roof for the big reveal. Mr Murray welcomed and thanked the crowds of people who came eager to set foot in the new gym. Applause and loud cheers resounded as the shutters rolled up to reveal what awaited them inside.Check-out more from the Big ProKick Reveal.
July 20th 2022 - What a day this has been! #ReBuildProKick became #ProKickReBuilt - Building Control approved - Handover completed, most of our equipment is in and we will open on the 1st August.
The BIG reveal - public viewing for meet and greeting is set for Sunday 31st July 2-4pm.
There is more on www.prokick.com
July 17th July 2022 - #ReBuildProKick is coming soooooo close to finally being finished! Handover from the builders to us is scheduled for 10am Wednesday 20th July. Let's see if that is going to happen!
Our opening night is set for the 1st August and our first new beginners course is sold-out weeks ago.
Guys you are all going to be blown away with our new facilities which are backed and supported by #UrbanVillagesNI #ThrivingPlaces - we have less than two week to finish everything, the clock is ticking! #TDR
Handover from the Builder to ProKick was meant to happen on the 8th July - 'well it didn’t happen' - The lift, fire alarm, wasn’t commissioned. Also a few other issues for Building control needed addressed. more later.
19th June 2022 - Hello all - just a quick up-date for #ReBuildProKick - Completion is meant to be in 11 days time from now! The builders WRC have said again they are pushing towards completing at the end of this month. Personally, I can't see this happening, however, they'll not be far away from the proposed date that's if they don't hit it. Our equipment which will be supplied and fitted by #Podium4Sport is scheduled to be fitted on the 4th July and will take 3 or 4 days to build. Our own fitting and preparing the new site will take us a couple of weeks.
We will officially open for classes on Monday the 1st August 2022...
OMG we are nearly there! Thanks to everyone whom have helped to get us thus far...
Thank you all!
Billy Murray
13th June 2022 - Completion for #ReBuildProKick in 17 days, will it happen?
Check out our private 'ProKick Members Page' on FB for further up-dates
3rd June 2022 - Completion for #ReBuildProKick in 27 days - Check out our private 'ProKick Members Page' on FB
30th May 2022 - #BelfastCityCouncil project manager talks about #ReBuildProKick
30th May 2022 - Gareth Tipping Garment Graphixs pays a visit to our new gym and is blown away with the progress for #ReBuildProKick
May 29th 2022 - #Filmmaker #Director #Cinematographer Jim Crone was at the new #ProKickGym #ReBuildProKick #TDR #TheProKickWay
May 27th 2022 - Mixed emotions, never thought this day would come - I handed in our termination letter to quit tenancy at the Wilgar St Gym location. These premises have been our home for over the last 30 + years were we served our community from a Tin Hut.
5th May 2022 - Thanks Mr Paul Stevenson from Podium 4 Sport Ltd
We’re Getting closer guys to #ReBuildProKick
21st October 2021 - An Up-Date on, #AsbestosProblems - #ReBuildProKick #TDR
20th September 2021 - First day for the Builders, #WilliamRogersContractors are on site. A video up-date for - #ReBuildProKick #TDR
12th September 1989-to-2021 - What a journey, I won my first Professional kickboxing World title at the Ulster Hall.... and 32 years later, two of my young fighters compete for championship crowns in our close to a million £ venture at our soon-to-be new venue - what a story and do the press scream & shout about it!Billy Murray
IN BRIEF THE STORY SO FAR:
March 4th 2020 - Met the Architects this afternoon on site (Laburnum St) Tuesday 4th March. ProKick’s Billy Murray & Shamus Fyfe knocked heads (in a good way) with MHA architects Michael Herron and Ryan Begley along with Ester Waugh the project manager from the Belfast City Council. Really constructive meeting, we’ll have a second draft of plans very soon. Meet some of the team
February 21st 2020 - We received the first draft from the architect on 21st February Placed Banners on building to inform community ProKickGym will relocate
ProKick new premisses in Laburnum St - got measured for a second time.
January 9th 2020 - The next phase: We have met with our delivery partners, the Belfast City council Met with the architects & design team on site at Laburnum St - 9th January 2020 Timescale for the design, tendering, renovations, to finish 16-18 months. A more definitive start-to-finish time will be posted when we meet with the architects & design team again.
December 2019 - The wait is over, as ProKick revealed on December 2019 that we were the proud owners of our new building! A massive thanks to all who helped with the money raised from the Go Fund Me campaign and especially the important and relentless support of the Urban Villages Initiative.
Feb 8th 2019 - Check out the #TheIrishTimes today Friday 8th Feb. Nice article by #FionolaMeredith
March 2016 - ProKick discovered the vision of the Urban Villages Initiative for East Belfast. For the next couple of years, meetings on top of meetings were scheduled, case studies were written and business plans drawn up alongside the UV team and dreams became a reality
November 23rd 2018 - ProKick’s Dinner night at Oliver's bistro - Oliver's have weigh’d-in to help the ProKick #GoFundMe page to #RebuildProKick
https://www.gofundme.com/a-new...
