James Haskell's Hask 45 gym closes after creditor action and near £1 million debt

James Haskell’s Bath-based fitness studio Hask 45 has been ordered closed after a creditor secured a High Court wind-up against the business, with the venture carrying debts that officials have described as substantial. Court records show the company has faced debts totaling about £927,738, and one creditor in particular pressed for payment until a court order effectively halted operations. Bath & North East Somerset Council is among the listed creditors, though it has declined to comment on the amount it is owed. Haskell, who has remained a high‑profile figure in English rugby and media circles, did not comment on the case.

The case underscores a broader pattern of small, fitness-focused businesses that expanded in the mid-2010s but struggled through the lockdowns of 2020 and 2021. Hask 45, described as a 45‑minute, high‑intensity circuit training concept, opened in Bath in 2017 and marketed itself as an accessible, group-based program designed to appeal to rugby players and general fitness enthusiasts alike. The gym’s positioning relied on a performance-driven model that attracted local athletes and fans of Haskell’s public profile, including appearances at high‑profile events and the host’s media activities.

Financial filings show the business faced continuing pressures after the country’s lockdown periods. By March 2021, Haskell publicly acknowledged plans to expand, saying he would not be able to open a studio in Manchester as previously envisaged, and in September 2022 he abandoned plans to bring a Hask 45 location to London. Those strategic shifts coincided with ongoing financial stress; this year the company reported debts totaling about £927,738, with a separate note indicating roughly £437,000 was owed to another of Haskell’s corporate entities in which he and his late father were principal shareholders. The court action and debt levels ultimately culminated in the High Court order that put the Bath studio out of business.

The creditor actions and resulting closure mark a stark turn for a business once pitched as a convenient, local training option aligned with Haskell’s athletic background. The saga also reflects common risks for athlete-founded ventures that scale quickly and rely on continued revenue streams through periods of disruption. Haskell, 40, has remained in the public eye beyond his rugby career, participating in media projects and continuing to engage with fans through podcasts and broadcasting roles; however, he has not commented on the current proceedings.

As the case closes this chapter for Hask 45, stakeholders will look to creditors’ statements and any potential restructuring or liquidation outcomes to determine how liabilities will be resolved and whether any portion of the business can be revived or repurposed in the future. The council’s decision to withhold commentary on the debt amount reflects ongoing sensitivities around publicly disclosed sums in court actions. In the meantime, Bath residents and former clients who trained at Hask 45 will be weighing how the closure affects access to local fitness options and any broader implications for similar small businesses navigating post-pandemic recovery.