Ian Dowe in Old School

UNDERNEATH Navigator Square, there is a world champion at work.

In an era of gym chains on every corner, Archway’s Dowe Dynamics Gym is a world apart – independent, old school, and run by the decorated bodybuilder who gave it his name.

Ian Dowe, 70, founded the gym to pass on his expertise after decades on the amateur bodybuilding circuit where he was the one to beat – Mr Britain, Mr Europe, Mr World.

Director and actor Ieuan Coombs met Mr Dowe for personal training sessions after being cast in a role that required him to build some muscle.

Straight away, he wanted to make a film about him.

“You go into reception and there are photos on the wall of Ian with Arnold Schwarzenegger and famous people he’s trained in the past, like Stavros Flatley,” said Mr Coombs, who described Dowe Dynamics as a “hidden gem” that more people should know about and go to.

Darren Sng who composed the music for the film; Mr Dowe and Ieuan Coombs

The photos and magazine cuttings continue down the stairs to the gym floor, where each weight and machine has been handpicked by Mr Dowe for its muscle-building efficacy.

“There are a lot of regulars who genuinely love Ian and treat him with a lot of respect and admiration,” added Mr Coombs.

“He’s such a charismatic, generous guy and he’s had an amazing life. I thought it would make a fascinating story.”

The result was a short documentary, Old School, all about Mr Dowe and filmed at the gym in Archway. Now Mr Coombs is back for another round – and this time, he will use Dowe Dynamics as the backdrop for a fictional film about a former bodybuilding champion with a relentless ambition that drives his loved ones away.

“I wanted to explore this tendency for men to get tied into succeeding at all costs,” he said.

“I don’t want to paint a bad picture of bodybuilding – it’s an incredibly aesthetic, admirable thing to do – but metaphorically it works well for this story because it’s about image, it’s about pride.”

This new 15-minute film, Mickey the Muscle, is a “proof of concept” that Mr Coombs hopes to turn into a feature-length film one day – a typical journey in the movie-making world, that was the starting point for movies such as Whiplash and Boiling Point.

You can follow Ieuan Coombs on Instagram for updates @ieuancoombs