Plans to turn £3m former museum into fitness centre

A former museum that closed due to substantial financial losses is set to become a health and fitness centre.

The award-winning River and Rowing Museum in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, was put up for sale for £3m last year after closing its doors in September 2025.

Speaking to BBC Radio Berkshire this week, the building's owner, the museum's foundation trust, said it had now identified a preferred bidder for the site - local residents Mike Spink and Rob Hamilton.

Kevin Sandhu, the trust's director, said the prospective owners would be working within the building's extended user clause, converting it into a health and fitness facility.

"We ran a very comprehensive bidding process," Sandhu said.

"We had interest from far and wide, including overseas interest, so it was quite ironic that two local residents ended up with the strongest bid."

The 35,688 sq ft museum building has two different parts and was opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1998.

In October 2022 it underwent a £1.1m refurbishment project.

But in July 2025, the foundation trust made the decision to shut down the operation, citing rising costs.

"Us occupying the building was leading to ongoing sustained financial losses, which meant that had we not taken the decision to close, the charity probably would have been bankrupt within 18 months to two years," Sandhu said.

"Our focus has been on finding a new owner for the building and relinquishing financial responsibility for it."

He said a sale would put the trust "in a much stronger financial position".

"Hopefully the right people will take over the building and we can find a new home either within the building or perhaps even in a new location," he added.

The BBC has contacted Mike Spink and Rob Hamilton for a comment.