You can get in shape while you shop with Apprentice star Katie Bulmer-Cooke’s pop-up store in Sunderland

Visitors to Sunderland can intersperse their shopping spree with getting in shape when TV star Katie Bulmer-Cooke launches her pop-up store on Friday. The Sunderland-born fitness fanatic, who was on series 10 of The Apprentice and is now a fitness trainer, speaker and consultant, is opening a shop at the Bridges for six weeks, offering a range of gym clothes, trainers and supplements along with hosting a range of classes.

Katie says she wants to help the city get fitter. “It breaks my heart when I see the statistics about the health of people in Sunderland,” she says. “This is a great way for people to get a taster for exercise which hopefully will encourage them to get involved.”

The city centre shop, in the former Van Mildert store, will run a programme of daily classes suitable for all ages, with experts on hand to give fitness advice. Adults’ classes for those aged over 16 will include Pilates, mams and buggies, body blast and full body fit. A range of classes aimed at youngsters will also be available, such as Jittabugs move and groove, baby ballet and Yoga pupz.

“I’ve put together a programme of classes which hopefully will be something for everyone, regardless of their age and fitness level,” says Katie. “I’m hoping that the people of Sunderland will really embrace it. You see a lot of this kind of thing in London, but not really anywhere else in the country so we are really leading the way here.”

Classes can be booked seven days in advance by calling the store on 07725-889957 or via Katie’s Facebook page.

Andy Bradley, Centre Manager at the Bridges said he was delighted that Katie had decided to run her pop-up store in the centre.

“It’s been a great few months with a number of new retailers coming into the centre,” said the Bridges centre manager Andy Bradley. “Katie and her innovative concept of a shop selling fitness products combined with classes for everyone is a fantastic addition.”