Founded in 2012, HENCH is a pioneering coaching gym in Belfast City centre that’s dedicated to you becoming stronger for life. We've helped 5000+ people like you build a stronger, healthier lifestyle that transforms every aspect of their daily lives.
Learn about our members resultsWe work with you to define your individual fitness goals and our team of coaches are always on hand to guide you based on your individual needs. Every member has their own personal coach who provides one-to-one accountability and advice via face to face and remote consultation.
Learn about membershipsOur mission is to help you look, feel, and live stronger – with the confidence, resilience, and determination to take on anything life throws your way. We build bodies and minds that are primed to meet the demands of modern life - your physical and mental wellbeing is as important to us as your ability to squat, row or bench press. We work with people of all ages and backgrounds and focus on getting to know you as a person, understanding your goals and supporting you every step of the way.
We have an inclusive community of like-minded people from diverse backgrounds of all ages who come together to create a fun, welcoming environment to get results and build a long-term sustainable relationship with your health and fitness. Our members come together with a shared goal - to become stronger for life. We love and enjoy what we do and take down to earth approach to delivering our mission.
Our expert coaching team is led by Head Coach Conor Johnson, with coaches Jay Malcolm, Joe McGreevy, Bronagh Donnelly and John Watson working alongside Founder Rory Girvan (Former Ireland No. 1 ranked Powerlifter, ambassador for mental health charities and Irish News Fitness Columnist) and Business Manager Ciara Girvan. Our coaches are highly experienced and hold bachelors, masters degrees or PhDs in exercise science and undergo regular, rigorous training and development to stay up-to-date with the latest in strength training and coaching techniques.
"There's so many things that I love about HENCH. It's quite hard to pinpoint just one. I'd have to say my favorite thing is the time commitment that they give you."
"The things I like best about HENCH is that coaching is really good. And it's made me think about exercise differently in terms of structuring it through my weight, giving myself rest days, allowing myself time to recover, eating well."
"I'm spending half the time in the gym as I did previously but making much better progress. I feel less fatigued during long and stressful work days, and better in general - happy that I can carve out space in my day to lift."
"I think I've made more progress in the first 6 months being here than I did in the last 6 years."
"My favorite thing about HENCH is the balance that it gives me. Before joining, I was looking for a place that I would be able to train and feel independent, have my own sense of autonomy"
"Within a short time, I hit my initial targets in terms of weight loss and muscle gain and can feel the benefits of the training sessions in every interaction outside the gym too."
"Unparalleled coaching provided at Hench, I have trained in lots of different gyms and with different coaches and have never made as much progress, or enjoyed my training, as much as I have at Hench."
"I've got a stronger back and it's more or less got rid of my chronic low back pain that's been an exception eye outcome"
"I've gotten more out of Hench and I have in the previous 10 years of going to gyms"
"I began to understand that if you dealt with people who knew what they were talking about, you got results very, very quickly and the wonderful thing about HENCH is that it allows you to constantly pursue new goals too"
"I learned more in a matter of weeks, than in 10 year of training on my own"
"I'm hitting PB'S in my 40's, that I couldn't even get close to in my 20's, as well as putting myself in the best position to be fit, healthy & strong for my family"
“What surprised me the most was the amount of progress you can make - in such a short time”
Ross
25th May 2023
I have been training at HENCH now for 9 months. The facilities are great, the training is top class and the coaches are very knowledgeable and approachable. The attention to detail that you get in HENCH is brilliant. This has made a huge difference in improving my lifts and form each session. The atmosphere in the gym is great and I couldn't recommend it enough for anyone in the Belfast area!
Ali
24th April 2021
Great gym. Coaches are extremely knowledgeable and dedicated to each member. Good atmosphere with like minded people. More expensive than other gyms but you certainly get what you pay for at HENCH👌. Gym is suitable for all people no matter what stage they're at on their journey.
Eoin
25th May 2023
Great gym with really knowledgeable and passionate staff. A community of likeminded people, all looking to better themeselves in one way or another. Equally suitable to both the beginner and advanced trainer. Without doubt the best decision I have taken in respect of my health and well-being has been joining Hench. I cannot recommend the place enough.
Neil
I’ve been to quite a few gyms, but Hench is in a different class. The coaching is of an extremely high standard with a good attention to technique and form. There is great variation in the programming and I have been able to make excellent progress in a short space of time. I would recommend this gym to anyone, even to a complete beginner.