The Refectory
A brand new strength space in Ilkeston. Opening July 2026.
Small, personal, and built for folks who are ready to pick up a barbell and actually enjoy it. No intimidating gym floor, no generic plans, no being left to figure it out alone.
This is for you if...
You've been meaning to sort your strength training out for a while. Maybe you've tried the gym and felt like you didn't belong there. Maybe you've been doing bits and pieces at home but you're not sure if you're doing it right. Maybe you just want someone to show you what to do, and then leave you to get on with it.
You're not looking for a transformation. You're not interested in before and after photos. You just want to feel stronger, move better, and stop putting yourself at the bottom of the list.
That's exactly what The Refectory is for.
And if any of this sounds like you, it's probably not the right fit...
You're looking for a quick fix. You want someone to hand you a plan and disappear. You're hoping to be told what to eat and not asked about how you're sleeping or how you're feeling. You want a results photo for Instagram.
No hard feelings. There are plenty of other places for that. This isn't one of them.
Imagine this...
It's the end of August. You've done three weeks of proper, progressive strength work. You know what a hinge is, you know how to load a barbell, and you've stopped second-guessing every movement. Your back feels better than it has in months. You're walking into September with a plan, not a fresh start.
That's what this summer at The Refectory is designed to give you. Not a new body. A stronger one that actually does what you need it to do.
WHAT IS THE REFECTORY
The Refectory is a small, private strength studio at 170 Norman Street, Ilkeston, in the same building as The Luna Shala. It's just me, you (and possibly a few friendly faces), some barbells, and a decent playlist.
I'm opening it in July because I needed somewhere to do this properly. Somewhere that feels like it belongs to the women who use it. Somewhere that isn't intimidating, isn't generic, and that you felt welcomed to.
It's new. It's mine. And every session booked this summer helps me make it a reality.
THE PACKAGES
What's on offer this summer
The Full Reset | £75
The full picture: where we look at how you move, get you lifting, and send you away with a proper plan.
What's included:
Functional movement assessment using my brand new Level 4 Strength and Conditioning skills
1:1 coaching session working through your dumbbell programme with technique guidance
Filmed session so you can see exactly what you're doing (and refer back to it at home)
1 month dumbbell programme on the app: three 30-minute sessions a week, warm up and cool down built in
Personalised mobility library based on your movement assessment results
Two hours, just you and me. We'll look at how you move, work through your programme together, and make sure you actually know what you're doing before you leave. No vague advice, no generic plan. You'll walk away knowing exactly what to do, why you're doing it, and how to do it properly.
This is a founding price while I build out this service. It won't stay at £75 forever.
The Quick Start | £45
For when you want to get started without the fuss: one solid session and four weeks of structure to follow.
What's included
1 hour 1:1 session covering technique on key lifts and a full dumbbell programme walkthrough
4 weeks app access to a dumbbell programme pitched at your level (beginner, intermediate or advanced)
Three 30-minute sessions a week, warm up and cool down included
You don't need to know much to start. You just need someone to show you what to do and make sure you're doing it right. That's what this hour is for. By the end of it you'll have the technique, the programme, and enough confidence to get on with it on your own.
Lift With Your Mates | £65
A private strength session for you and your friends: proper coaching, proper barbells, proper laugh.
What's included
Private hire of The Refectory for your group (noone else in the room)
Fully coached group strength session tailored to your group’s level
Introduction to barbells and key foundational lifts
Mix of barbell and dumbbell work
This is the thing I've looked for myself and never been able to find. A proper strength session, just for your group, where everyone gets coached and nobody feels like they don't belong. Birthday do energy. Hen do energy. "We just fancied doing something a bit different" energy. Come, have a giggle, lift some weights. And while you're at it, you're helping me get The Refectory off the ground before the regular programming starts in September.
THE HONEST BIT
A quick word before you book
I'm going to be straight with you, because that's how I work.
The Refectory is brand new. I'm opening it in July and the regular programming doesn't start until September. Every session booked this summer isn't just doing something good for you, it's helping me cover the running costs of a space I've put a lot of thought, time, and money into getting right.
If you book in July or August, you're not just a client. You're one of the first. And that means something to me.
ABOUT ROSIE
Who you'll be working with
I'm Rosie. I'm a strength coach and menopause specialist based in Ilkeston, and I've been working with women in their 40s and 50s for the last few years. I went through early menopause at 43, I've spent years unlearning everything the diet industry told me, and I take lifting weights very seriously while taking myself considerably less so.
I'm currently completing my Level 4 Strength and Conditioning qualification (Level 3 already done, via a British Weightlifting scholarship). The Full Reset is the first place I'm putting those skills to proper use, which is why the founding price is what it is.
I'm not here to shrink you. I'm here to make you stronger.
Frequently Asked Questions
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170 Norman Street, Ilkeston. It's in the same building as The Luna Shala but the entrance is different. If you're new: look for Not Too Shabby by Charlotte in the main church building, then go through the gate to the left. If you've been to The Luna Shala before: The Refectory is on the opposite side of the building, through the gate and doorway on the right.
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Stapleton Road is a good option nearby.
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Comfortable clothes you can move in, and flat-soled trainers. Converse are ideal. Anything without a chunky heel works well. For The Full Reset, you'll need to take your shoes off for the movement assessment, so bear that in mind.
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Water and a small snack. That's it.
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If you're new to working with me, or it's been more than six months since we last worked together, I'll send you a PAR-Q (a short health questionnaire) with your confirmation email. It takes about two minutes.
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No. Everything is tailored to where you're at. The only thing you need to bring is yourself.
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es, and this is genuinely my area. I'm a certified menopause specialist as well as a strength coach, so if hormones, fatigue, joint aches, or any of the other delightful side effects are part of your picture, I know how to work with that rather than around it.
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STFU Beginners, an 8-week programme designed specifically for women who are new to strength training or want to start again properly. The Summer Reset feeds directly into it if you want to keep going.
Ready to get started?
Pick the option that feels right and book in. If you're not sure which one suits you, drop me an email at rosie@rosiestrong.co.uk and I'll help you work it out.
The Refectory. 170 Norman Street, Ilkeston. Opening July 2026.