We caught up with Cat Webb and Dave Kerr - the local legends that run Good Times Pilates and Drivers Beer - to chat creativity, building a business around community and their favourite Winter activities in Melbourne.

UP THERE: Hi Cat & Dave - thanks for taking the time to show us around the studio today. Could you introduce yourselves and what you do?

CAT: Thanks for coming! I’m the CEO and founder of Good Times so I do all the things and try to manage all the key players. We opened our first studio in Fitzroy 7 years ago and we now have three group reformer studios in the inner North, a team of 25 and a community of thousands. I’m also the interior designer, because creating spaces is something I really love doing.

DK: I’m kind of Cat’s right hand, or extra hand. I spend a lot of time on maintenance making sure that the studios don’t fall apart, look pretty and the machines work as they should. Then I get to do boring stuff like make sure we don’t spend too much on Meta Ads and refill the coffee. 

Pilates has become quite popular in recent years and new studios have been popping up everywhere - what do you think makes Good Times unique and able to capture such a devoted, loyal community?

CAT: And we’re not mad about it! I mean clearly, I’m pretty invested in it, so I’m stoked that others are too! What’s most important to us is how we make people feel and everything we do goes into curating the best experience for our community. We know how intimidating movement spaces can be, and instead chose to make things approachable and fun. Pilates and fitness in general doesn’t have to be serious. We joke around a lot, we know people’s names, and we offer movement autonomy! There’s no assumptions at Good Times, everyone comes just as they are and they’re allowed the space to move in their own way.

DK: I only came to it after meeting Cat and I know that among my guy friends, it still holds quite a feminine skew in their minds. With everyone new that we convince to try it, the stereotype alters from something that you can do while lying on your back, to a way of working out that can really challenge you, make you super strong or more flexible. I think for me, the great thing is that you can start from an absolute zero of fitness or flexibility and work your way up, and I mean way up, if you want. Good Times is amazing at empowering people at every part of the journey, through the teacher’s language, the approach to the styles and the way the studios present. 

Good Times started in 2018 as a single independent studio in Fitzroy. In the last few years, you’ve expanded into Northcote and Brunswick - congratulations! What strategies do you have in place to remain creative – from a professional and personal point of view - when life gets really busy?

DK: We never stop moving. There is always something to tweak, or move. We love to rotate the art and fixtures through the studios and through our house to keep things fresh. When we’re out and about, there is always a lens of looking at things that might fit in the studio. It kinda means that you get to buy cool stuff and make it tax deductible too, but let’s tell the ATO it’s never just for the house, yeah?

CAT: Honestly this is tough for me! There’s a lot going on in my life, so creativity takes a back seat sometimes. I find the most accessible, simple and joyful form of creativity for me is styling myself. I wear lots of colour and always add something a bit silly, like right now I have pearl bow clips attached to my sneakers.

The fit out at Good Times is incredible - when building a new studio do you try to create a unique vibe for each one? Does that come naturally each time, or do you have a process in place?

CAT: I’m always curating Pinterest boards and Instagram saved folders of things I come across that might work for a studio space, so when we start looking at new spaces I have a few ideas to work with. Then the practical design comes after being in the space and knowing what we have to work with. I like to make each space feel like they’re closely related but not identical twins. We have a few similar hero pieces in all of the studios that help tie the overall studio experience together. 

Dave, you also started Drivers, a non-alcoholic beer company, not too long ago – how did that idea come to life and what has been the biggest surprise in this journey so far?

DK: I used to own a bar in Carlton called The Beaufort. I truly miss being in and around hospitality. About a year ago, a mate from high school called me and told me he wanted to start a non-alc beer company. I told him it was a dumb idea and we’d never make any money. But, he’s the creative director at a big time ad agency, got some more mates together and they came back, showed me the can and the creative, I couldn’t really say no. It’s been amazing to see the rapid growth in non-alcoholic beverage. People still crave the social elements that bars create, but just don’t necessarily need to smash pints on a Tuesday. We’re definitely tapping into the part of the market that’s on the rise, while the rest feels like it’s shrinking everyday.  

Winter is coming and we’re embracing the change of seasons – how would you describe your perfect Winter weekend in Melbourne?

DK: For me, it’s convincing myself to get up in the dark and go for a run. Then taking the kids round the corner to Moon (the Donut/Cruller offshoot off Lune) on their scooters and hitting the park with the dog in tow. Quick trip to the markets on the cargo bike and then hanging with our mates and their kids. We’ve been lucky to land awesome friends with kids the same age, so we cook, drink, talk nonsense and take turns tending to whichever of the little demons (cherubs) is yelling loudest. 

CAT: Dave is so wholesome! Mine would include time without the kids, lol. I’ll go to Pilates while Dave is at the park with the dog and kids then. We do love going to the markets, especially for a borek at the Vic Market. And a pub lunch or dinner with friends is always a good time. My Sunday would be an adult’s only lunch somewhere awesome and local like Carnation Canteen or Napier Quarter and then movie night with the heater on, and the kids can be there for that. 

Last question, but an important one: what in the world is inspiring you at the moment?

DK: Driver’s is based around the idea that we can sell enough cans to buy rad cars but make them tax deductible. We’ve admired the team at Race Service in LA since they launched, and when Up There and Good Art announced the collab collection that launched during the F1 in Melbourne, we were trying to play it cool when we asked to sponsor the launch, I’m really hoping I didn’t make it too obvious how excited I was. In our world, Race Service really is at the forefront of car culture and melding it with fashion and big brands, but in an unapologetic and authentic way. 

CAT: Planning and researching our adult-only Euro trip, Givenchy F/W25, Millie Savages house in the Design Files, over embellishment in all the ways, (AB) NORMAL design studio, glass bricks, Every Outfit podcast, getting to Pilates almost every day.

With thanks to Cat and Dave

Good Times Pilates

5/19-35 Gertrude St, Fitzroy 3065
172 Sydney Rd, Brunswick 3056
500 High St, Northcote 3056

Drivers Beer

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