Our products01
Group training membership
Unlimited access to all group strength classes across the week. The current cycle runs through October and focuses on the squat, press,…
£65/month
News & Announcements
News & Announcements
2026-07-15
How to start barbell training without hurting yourself
The barbell is one of the most useful tools in a gym, and also one of the most misused. Most people who get hurt in their first few months of lifting do not get hurt because the weights are too heavy. They get hurt because nobody showed them how to set up, and they copied what they saw on their phone. This guide covers the basics of getting started safely.
Read more →2026-06-18
Why we programme in twelve-week cycles
Every quarter, Samuel Kearsley writes a new twelve-week training cycle for Gnarl Lab Zone. Members sometimes ask why twelve weeks specifically, and why the same movements repeat so often within a cycle. The answer is not complicated, but it is worth explaining properly.
Read more →2026-05-20
What actually happens in a movement assessment
The movement assessment at Gnarl Lab Zone is a 45-minute session that looks at how you move through five fundamental patterns: the squat, the hinge, the press, the pull, and the carry. It is not a fitness test. Nobody is timing you or counting reps. It is a structured observation, and you leave with a written summary.
Read more →Our products
Why people stay
01
Small classes, real coaching
Sessions cap at eight people so Samuel or one of the two other coaches can actually watch your movement, not just count your reps.
02
Programming that builds over time
Every cycle runs twelve weeks. You are not doing random workouts. You are building something, and you can see it on the whiteboard.
03
The 6 a.m. Quiet
The early slot is calm, focused, and usually the best hour of the day. Coffee is on before the first warm-up.
04
Open gym with real equipment
Rogue barbells, Eleiko plates, a full set of kettlebells from 8 to 48 kg, and a 15-metre turf lane. No cardio theatre.
Founder
Meet the maker
Founder, Established since 2019
Samuel Kearsley
Samuel Kearsley spent eight years coaching at a commercial fitness chain before he got tired of the fluorescent lights and the membership-mill mentality. He'd trained seriously since his early twenties, mostly in strength and movement work, and by 2018 he was sketching floor plans on the back of programming notebooks. Gnarl Lab Zone opened in spring 2019 in a converted light-industrial unit he found through a local property listing. He still coaches the 6 a.m. Slot most mornings, partly because he likes the quiet, and partly because he takes a long walk before every session to think through the day's programming. He drinks his coffee black and keeps a whiteboard above the squat rack that he updates every Monday.
FAQ
Common questions
Do I need any experience to join?
No. If you have never touched a barbell, the foundations course is the right starting point. It runs every other month in groups of four, and it covers everything you need before joining a regular class. If you are somewhere in between, the free trial session includes a movement screen so we can figure out where to put you.
What does a typical class look like?
About 10 minutes of warm-up and movement prep, then the main strength work from the current cycle, then some accessory work, then a cool-down. The whole thing is 60 minutes. There is no metcon at the end, no surprise burpees. We train, we cool down, we go.
Can I come if I am returning from injury?
Yes, but please tell us before you book. A one-to-one session with Samuel or Priya is usually the best first step so we can understand what you are working around and build from there. We are not physios, but we are careful and we communicate well with the physios our members use.
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