We are proud to be celebrating our 10 year anniversary this Summer. Prime Acrobatics first opened on 4th July 2016. Over the past ten years we have grown to be one of the largest British Gymnastics clubs with just under 100 staff and a membership approaching 2,000 children and adults.
Early beginnings
The club was co-founded by Chris and Alan Bowler with Clem and Erica Malcolmson. The dream was to create a gymnastics club in Surrey that could give everyone in the community the chance to enjoy the benefits of a healthy and active lifestyle. After several years of searching for the right place, Prime Acrobatics finally found a home in Heather Farm, Horsell Common. Work began on building a gymnastics centre with a circus twist! Read more about the club’s beginning here.
The idea to merge traditional gymnastics apparatus with circus activities came from Chris Bowler’s background as a former Head Coach for Cirque du Soleil. Chris introduced aerial hoop, tight wire, trapeze and so much more into the class programme. We have continued to enjoy blending different apparatus for ten years now. Our members swing on bars and trapeze, they balance on beams and slack line and they develop strength on aerial hoop and silks. Our class programme continues to be inspired by Chris’ time with Cirque du Soleil. Read more about Chris’ background here.
Growing and development
Our classes soon took off and our membership quickly grew. To support demand, our coaching team also had to grow. We have nurtured many young and developing coaches over the past decade and supported so many through adolescence and into adulthood. New coaches have always been supported and guided by senior coaches who include those with decades of coaching experience under their belt, British Gymnastics tutors and others with circus experience. Coach Education soon became a key ingredient to our success. Regular staff training events throughout the year allow us to develop our coaches’ skill set and help them venture from gymnastics coaching into circus coaching.
Success and expansion
We are proud to have been shortlisted for the British Gymnastics ‘Community Club of the Year’ award five times (in 2019, 2022, 2023, 2025 and 2026). We have put a lot of work in to become not only one of the best gymnastics clubs in Surrey, but one of the best in the country. We have also garnered international attention and support. We became the only UK partner for Cirque du Soleil’s talent development programme ‘NexGen’ which allowed us to host a training camp for Russian cradle and Russian swing in late 2024. Read more about our NexGen partnership here.
This came alongside the opening of our second centre in Camberley. Finally opening the doors to a second training facility was the end of a very long process that took several years. With our new centre in Camberley, Surrey, we have been able to employ more coaches and provide even more gymnastics and circus training opportunities. The CEO of British Gymnastics, Sarah Powell, officially opened our Camberley centre in September 2025. Read more about our Camberley official opening here.
Our Camberley centre is where we run bespoke sessions for children with Down syndrome. Our partnership with the charity Stepping Stones DS is very important to us and allows us to provide a safe and supportive place for over 60 children. Read more about our partnership with Stepping Stones DS here.
Anniversary Celebrations
We intend on having lots of fun with our members and staff during our anniversary celebrations! For the two-week period running from Monday 29th June to Sunday 12th July, we will be running a special celebration theme in our after-school classes. There will be games and challenges inspired by our anniversary. On Saturday 4th July (ten years to the day since we opened), staff will come together for an anniversary BBQ and celebrate. Then, on Sunday 5th July, we have anniversary celebration sessions taking place in our Camberley centre; these party-themed sessions are a great chance for members to come and have some fun in the gym and join the celebrations. Read more about our members-only anniversary celebration sessions here.
