The rise in gym attendance is attributed to a shift towards socialising among young adults aged 25 or under, with younger people increasingly using gyms as an anchor point for friendships. Sydney Cassidy, a 28-year-old digital creator and fitness enthusiast, says that the gym is a place where she meets friends and avoids drinking culture without missing out on a social life. Research by Mintel suggests that younger people now have a broader understanding of what "wellness" means to them, and expect fitness centres and health clubs to provide more than just workout equipment and exercise classes. The UK's largest gym chain, PureGym, reported that 47% of its new members in January were under 25,000, and The Gym Group reported that about 40% or 360,000 of its members are Gen Z - adults under 29 - of which more than half, 51%, said they had formed a new friendship on the gym floor. However, Mintel does not have evidence to prove that increased popularity of gyms on a level of social level is having a direct impact on pub takings.