Health Club Management July 2009

update news
edited by caroline wilkinson. email: carolinewilkinson@leisuremedia.com
in brief... first énergie fit4less opens
Fit4less, a new franchise budget club
roefi eld gets the go-ahead chain created by The énergie Group, has
Ribble Valley Council has approved launched with the opening of the fi rst
proposals to improve Roefi eld club in Swindon, Wiltshire.
Leisure Centre in Clitheroe. The ‘no frills’ centre – the fi rst
A £1.1m investment will provide of 20 set to open by the end
a new fi tness suite equipped of 2010, including 10 in
with 46 stations of Life Fitness 2009 – will not offer
cardiovascular and resistance contracts to members,
equipment. There will also be has no joining fee
daily access to services such as and will cost £16.99 a
the Time Out Youth Activity month. The club offers
Centre and the GP Exercise on a 50-station gym with
Prescription Scheme. free weights and 30 pieces of
Additional facilities at the centre, resistance kit, a solarium, studio area,
operated by Ribble Valley Sport changing facilities and a members’ lounge. The new Fit4less club has no contracts
and Recreation, will include a new Although many facilities associated and costs just £16.99 a month
aerobics and dance studio, meeting with a health club – such as a sauna,
rooms and a crèche. swimming pool and spa – have been ‘extras’ have been removed to keep our
stripped away to cut costs, the gym does own costs to a minimum, which allows
upgrades to waverley clubs offer sports massage and a hair salon. us to pass this on to the customer.”
Waverley Borough Council is to Fitness classes and personal training will Chief executive of The énergie Group,
invest £9.1m in refurbishing two of be offered at an extra cost. Jan Spaticchia, says: “We’re looking to
its leisure centres. “This is the ideal concept for anyone introduce Fit4less in multiple towns and
The council, in conjunction who likes to work out, shower and cities in Britain through our successful
with operator DC Leisure, chose leave,” says general manager Ben franchise support scheme, which
London-based design fi rm ISG to Palmer. “The majority of people who empowers people to own their own
carry out the improvements at are members of a health club never use business and be their own boss.”
its Farnham Sports Centre and the pool or spa but continue to pay The second club will open in
Cranleigh Leisure Centre sites. high prices. Fit4less can save people Inverness, Scotland, in September,
Work at the Cranleigh property, hundreds of pounds a year. followed by four sites in north London.
which is due to begin early this “It’s still a professional gym and we All fi rst two clubs were once part of the
month, will include a new, larger demand high quality and high standards Fitness First portfolio, recently acquired
gym, an improved reception area throughout. However, all the frills and by The énergie Group.
and enhanced wet and dry changing
facilities. Farnham will receive a new
two-storey extension at the front of
fx leisure opens fl agship club
the building, a new fi tness suite, and
an upgrade of the sports hall and Independent operator FX Leisure has
dry-side changing areas. announced the opening of its fl agship £4m
health club in Leyland, Lancashire.
new centre for croydon The 650sq m (7,000sq ft gym) at FX
Construction work on a new leisure Leisure Leyland offers 110 stations of
centre in Waddon, near Croydon, is equipment, supplied by Life Fitness and
expected to begin next spring. Precor, plus three exercise studios, two
According to the Croydon Vibrogyms and a free weights area.
Guardian, the centre will feature a Other facilities at the 1,860sq m
six-lane swimming pool, two dance (20,000sq ft) club include two
studios, a sports hall and a gym. steamrooms, a Swedish sauna and a 20m
The council is building the indoor and outdoor swimming pool, as
centre as part of its wider well as less conventional offerings such
regeneration scheme, called the as a movie room where exercisers can
Urban Regeneration Vehicle (URV) train while watching blockbuster fi lms,
– a joint venture with its private a free DVD rental service, a café and an
sector partner, development fi rm independently-run hair and beauty salon.
John Laing. Subject to planning FX Leisure currently has seven clubs
permission, the centre is expected – in Wigan, Warrington, Blackpool, East
to open in 2011. FX Leisure offers 110 stations of Manchester, Congleton and Gateshead –
Precor and Life Fitness equipment with another two due to launch in 2010.
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