The People's Gym · Cork
A gym for beginners, and for starting again
Never set foot in a gym, or not in years? Our Douglas and Ballincollig gyms are small, coached and friendly, and every single member was a beginner once. Your first session is free.
Beginners
What makes ATP different for a beginner
We built the gym for the person who is nervous about walking in. That is most people.
Always coached
There is no wandering around a machine floor wondering what to do. A coach is beside you from your first session, showing you everything.
Small and semi-private
No crowds, no queues for equipment, no mirrors full of people staring. Just a friendly room and a handful of people training.
Start where you are
Your programme is built for your body and your fitness today, not for where you think you should be.
No long contracts
Rolling memberships have a 3 month minimum and then you can cancel anytime, or credit packs that never expire.
Beginners are the norm
Most people here started from scratch or after a long break. Nobody will bat an eyelid.
A free first session
A real coached 30-minute session, not a sales tour. Come and see if it feels right before you decide anything.
Starting out
How to start the gym when you have no idea where to start
The hardest part of the gym is the front door. Once you are through it with someone who knows what they are doing beside you, the rest is surprisingly simple. This page is for the person who has been meaning to start for months, or years, and keeps putting it off because they do not know what they would even do when they got there.
What your first session looks like
You fill in the form below and one of the team rings to book a time that suits you, at Douglas or Ballincollig. When you arrive a coach meets you at the door, shows you around, and has a chat about what you want to get out of it. Then you train, gently. A warm up, a few basic movements taught properly, nothing heavy, nothing that leaves you unable to walk the next day. It takes about 30 minutes and you leave knowing exactly what training here would look like.
What happens after
If you like it, you pick whatever suits: a rolling membership from twice a week, or a pack of credits that never expires. Your coach builds your programme and you are coached 1:2, one coach and two clients, every session. The first month is about learning the movements and building the habit. After that the weights creep up and the results start showing.
Getting back after a long break
A lot of our members were active once, then work, kids or an injury got in the way. If that is you, the good news is the body remembers. We start lighter than you expect and progress faster than you expect. Old injuries are worked around, not ignored, and our coaches are happy to talk to your physio.
The things beginners worry about
Being judged: nobody here is looking at anyone, and the coaches have seen every starting point there is. Being the unfittest person in the room: you will not be, and it would not matter if you were. Not knowing what to do: that is literally the coach's job. Being tied in: you are not. Come in for the free session and you will see all of that for yourself in the first ten minutes.
Memberships & pricing
Simple, flexible pricing
Personal training from €20.56 a session on a rolling membership, €35 pay as you go, and no-expiry packs from €289. See full pricing →
Reviews
Rated 5.0 by our members
"ATP has been a great place for me to get back into gym work with their PT services. It's a very beginner-friendly gym with excellent facilities and trainers."
"It can be quite daunting stepping into a gym for the first time in a very long time, but I have to say all the trainers at ATP were friendly and welcoming and very focused on helping you achieve your goals."
"Definitely Cork’s friendliest gym! I was a complete novice coming in with an ankle injury, but now I’m somebody who looks forward to my PT sessions every week."
"Whether you have never been in a gym before or have experience, the team at ATP can assist you in whatever goal you have. They are all so welcoming, knowledgeable and friendly."
FAQ
Beginner questions
If yours is not here, give us a ring. We would rather talk it through.
I have never been to a gym. Will I feel out of place?
No. Our gyms are small, coached and full of people who started exactly where you are. A coach is with you from the first minute.
How unfit is too unfit to start?
There is no such thing. We start everyone from where they are today, and the first few weeks are gentle by design.
What do I wear and bring?
Comfortable clothes you can move in, runners and a water bottle. That is all.
Do I have to do classes?
No. Most beginners start with 1:2 personal training so they learn the basics with a coach. Classes are there whenever you want them.
Is the free session really free?
Yes. No card, no commitment. It is a real coached session so you can see what training here is like.
What if I am carrying an injury or a health condition?
Tell us at the start and we will work around it, alongside whatever your GP or physio has advised.
How much does it cost after the free session?
From €179 every 4 weeks for two sessions a week, or no-expiry packs. Full pricing is on our homepage and there is never a contract.
Get started
Claim your free session
Tell us a little about yourself and a member of the ATP team will be in touch to book in your free session.
ATP Fitness App
Manage your sessions on the go
Book your PT & classes straight from your phone, manage your membership and top up credits any time.
Find us
Two locations across Cork
Douglas
2nd Floor, Unit A1, Donnybrook Commercial Centre, Donnybrook, Cork City
Tel: 087 649 4134
Mon-Thurs: 6:30am - 8:30pm
Friday: 6:30am - 7:00pm
Saturday: 8:00am - 2:00pm
Sunday: Closed
Ballincollig
Unit 1A, Link Road Business Park, Carrigrohane, Ballincollig, Co. Cork
Tel: 085 725 2370
Mon-Thurs: 6:30am - 8:30pm
Friday: 6:30am - 7:00pm
Saturday: 8:00am - 2:00pm
Sunday: Closed