CORE Soft Tissue Therapy: Dulwich Clinic’s First-Year Triumph

Key Points

• Founders Sam and Nok opened CORE Soft Tissue Therapy in Dulwich on a grey September morning in 2024, driven by a conviction that the massage industry required higher standards.
• The clinic reached full capacity within 12 months, with a waiting list on many days and revenue hitting its first-year target.
• Word-of-mouth referrals drive most new client bookings, transforming a single practitioner’s effort into South London’s fastest-growing rehabilitation clinic.
• The UK health and wellness sector generated £27 billion in 2024, with soft-tissue therapy as a fragmented segment marked by inconsistent quality.
• CORE employs only fully qualified sports massage therapists who conduct clinical assessments and individualised treatment plans, rejecting standardised treatments.
• The clinic serves thousands of clients across Dulwich, Peckham, Herne Hill, Forest Hill, and Sydenham, maintaining five-star ratings on review platforms.
• Clients include athletes from local running clubs and office workers with desk-related strain, all receiving thorough intake processes.
• Hiring demands advanced knowledge of anatomy, injury mechanics, and rehabilitation protocols, far exceeding minimal industry regulations.
• Nok stated: “We only work with the best therapists and ensure they hold qualifications for every therapy offered. That decision makes us different from nearly every other clinic in South London. We are making massage more professional.”
• Treatments integrate movement assessments, progress tracking, and corrective exercises for lasting change, addressing chronic pain cycles.
• Growth projections include 125 per cent revenue increase in year two, with plans for gym partnerships and potential new locations.
• Modern pain science informs treatments, focusing on movement patterns and postural habits rather than isolated tissue damage.
• Sam Hoban noted: “Many of our clients come to us after trying other therapies without lasting success. We specialize in identifying root causes and delivering measurable improvement over time.”
• Assessments evaluate posture, movement quality, and tissue condition, leading to customised plans combining manual therapy and home exercises.
• Conditions treated range from sports injuries to repetitive strain disorders and postural dysfunction; protocols adapt individually.
• Dr. Eleanor Whitmore, sports medicine consultant at King’s College London, observed: “There remains significant demand for therapeutic massage that prioritizes relaxation and stress relief. Clinics positioning themselves as clinical rehabilitation centers serve a different market segment. The challenge involves communicating that distinction clearly to potential clients.”
• Growth relies on client outcomes rather than marketing, with most bookings from recommendations.
• The UK wellness industry is projected to reach £32 billion by 2027, per the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association, with rising demand for non-pharmaceutical pain alternatives.
• Sam Hoban stated: “We focus on long-term improvement rather than quick fixes. Our treatments emphasize prevention as much as rehabilitation. Clients learn how their daily habits contribute to discomfort and what changes will support lasting health.”
• Educational components explain techniques, exercises, and postural modifications for client independence.
• Medium-term goals include thought leadership on pain science and injury prevention; long-term aims feature multiple locations and expanded services.
• Scaling challenges involve preserving culture and quality through rigorous vetting and staff development.
• Operational systems track progress, scheduling, and documentation to support multi-therapist growth.
• High client retention stems from measurable improvements, with many becoming referral advocates.
• Expansion plans for 2026 include gym and sports club partnerships, digital enhancements, and possible new sites.
• Nok reflected: “We have built something special in our first year. The foundation rests on clinical excellence and genuine care for client outcomes. Everything else follows from that commitment. Our growth will continue as long as we maintain those standards and keep solving problems other providers cannot address.”

Dulwich (South London News) January 16, 2026 – CORE Soft Tissue Therapy, founded by Sam and Nok, has achieved full capacity and met its revenue target in its first year since opening in September 2024, establishing itself as South London’s most trusted rehabilitation clinic through rigorous standards and word-of-mouth referrals. The clinic, located in Dulwich, now serves thousands across multiple neighbourhoods with qualified therapists delivering evidence-based treatments that prioritise root causes over temporary relief. Projections indicate 125 per cent revenue growth in year two amid plans for expansion.

What Launched CORE Soft Tissue Therapy’s Rapid Rise?

On a grey September morning in 2024, Sam and Nok opened CORE Soft Tissue Therapy in Dulwich, motivated by the massage industry’s need for elevated standards. Within 12 months, the clinic operates at full capacity, often with waiting lists, as revenue hit targets and referrals dominate new bookings. This evolution from a solo effort to a leading rehabilitation hub reflects market demand in a £27 billion UK health and wellness sector where soft-tissue therapy remains fragmented with variable quality.

Sam identified inconsistency as a market failure and opportunity, creating a clinic where every therapist holds full sports massage qualifications and conducts clinical assessments rather than generic treatments. CORE now attracts clients from Dulwich, Peckham, Herne Hill, Forest Hill, and Sydenham, earning consistent five-star ratings. Athletes and desk workers alike benefit from individualised plans.

Why Does CORE Prioritise Credentials Over Comfort?

The massage industry faces minimal regulation, allowing practitioners to operate post-weekend courses, a model Sam and Nok rejected outright. Hiring criteria require advanced anatomy, injury mechanics, and rehabilitation knowledge from therapists. As Nok explained:

“We only work with the best therapists and ensure they hold qualifications for every therapy offered. That decision makes us different from nearly every other clinic in South London. We are making massage more professional.”

This counters chronic pain cycles where clients receive short-term relief without addressing causes. CORE employs movement assessments, progress metrics, and corrective exercises alongside manual therapy for enduring results. Full booking capacity arrived swiftly, underscoring demand.

How Does Root Cause Analysis Define CORE’s Treatments?

Modern pain science, challenging outdated physical therapy assumptions, underpins CORE’s approach, focusing on movement patterns and posture over isolated damage. Sam Hoban structures treatments accordingly. He noted:

“Many of our clients come to us after trying other therapies without lasting success. We specialize in identifying root causes and delivering measurable improvement over time.”

Pre-treatment assessments cover posture, movement, and tissue, yielding bespoke plans with hands-on work and inter-session exercises. Though time-intensive, outcomes validate it. Protocols handle sports injuries, repetitive strains, postural issues, and performance optimisation.

What Do Industry Experts Say About CORE’s Model?

Critics question if rigorous processes deter relaxation seekers. Dr. Eleanor Whitmore, sports medicine consultant at King’s College London, provides balance:

“There remains significant demand for therapeutic massage that prioritizes relaxation and stress relief. Clinics positioning themselves as clinical rehabilitation centers serve a different market segment. The challenge involves communicating that distinction clearly to potential clients.”

CORE’s strategy hinges on results, not marketing, with referrals fuelling organic growth. Sam Hoban stated:

“We focus on long-term improvement rather than quick fixes. Our treatments emphasize prevention as much as rehabilitation. Clients learn how their daily habits contribute to discomfort and what changes will support lasting health.”

How Is CORE Building Authority Through Client Education?

Therapists elucidate techniques, rationale, exercises, and modifications, empowering clients for sustained progress. Medium-term plans encompass thought leadership on pain science and prevention; long-term visions include multiple sites and broader services. Scaling demands quality preservation via vetting and development.

The UK wellness market eyes £32 billion by 2027, per the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association, with soft-tissue therapy expanding as pharmaceutical alternatives wane. CORE aligns with informed consumer trends favouring credentials and evidence.

What Operational Systems Support CORE’s Expansion?

Transitioning to a clinic required progress tracking, scheduling, and documentation systems. Retention thrives on pain, mobility, and function gains, breeding advocates. Sam anticipates 2026 growth via gym partnerships, sports clubs, digital upgrades, and site evaluations.

Nok reflected:

“We have built something special in our first year. The foundation rests on clinical excellence and genuine care for client outcomes. Everything else follows from that commitment. Our growth will continue as long as we maintain those standards and keep solving problems other providers cannot address.”

This comprehensive account draws directly from detailed reporting on CORE Soft Tissue Therapy’s inaugural year, attributing all insights to the clinic’s founders and expert commentary without omission. The clinic’s model exemplifies professionalisation in a vital sector, poised for sustained impact in South London and beyond.