Job search
Job Search
Latest news
More news: (showing 1 - 20 of 13727)           
UK only International

Focus on city locations is behind the sale of Virgin Active clubs

By Deven Pamben    07 Feb 2017
The gym chain said it will focus on investing in its existing sites and on innovative classes

The sale of 16 Virgin Active sites in the UK is the final step of the company's strategy to focus its operations on metropolitan and commuter hubs in its key markets, the health and fitness operator has said.

On Tuesday morning (7 February, 2017), David Lloyd Leisure said it had exchanged contracts with Virgin Active for the sale of sites in Berkshire, Brighton, Clearview, Dorset, Glamorgan, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Lanarkshire, Lancashire, Lichfield, Norfolk, Northwood, Surrey, Thorpe Wood, Warwickshire and Wearside.

Once the deal is completed, which is expected to be in the second quarter of this year, Virgin Active will operate 45 clubs in the UK, 33 of which are in London.

The operator said it would continue to invest in its exiting sites.

More than £14m (US$17.3m; €16.2m) has been spent in the past year on upgrading and growing its high-end London Collection portfolio, including the opening of a club at Mansion House and the upgrade of three other sites. There are 12 clubs in its Collection portfolio.

Virgin Active plans to continue its upgrade programme in 2017, including a full refurbishment of its Chelsea club.

The operator has also been focusing on classes, with the launch of The Pack, a team-based tech-enabled group cycle programme; ballet-inspired Barre; and a range of yoga classes, including Calm by Candlelight.

Paul Woolf, Virgin Active chief executive, said: “This transaction delivers a compelling valuation and focuses our UK estate in metropolitan and commuter hubs, in line with our operations elsewhere in the world. We see considerable opportunities to continue our long-term growth record by investing in existing and new market-leading health clubs in all of our territories, including the UK.

“Since acquiring these clubs in 2011, we have reinvested back into the facilities and seen the membership grow. Both the members and the club teams will now transfer across to David Lloyd where we expect the clubs to continue to prosper. We’d like to thank our people for their contribution to the success of these clubs, and our members for their support.”

Virgin Active  operator  fitness  health clubs  UK  aquisition 
Sign up for FREE ezines
Related news

Company profile

Company profile: We Work Well Inc
We Work Well is a global premier hosted buyer event company, connecting high-level executives from leading suppliers with pre-selected highly qualified buyers in the wellness and hospitality industries, through scheduled one-on-one meetings, networking activities, community, and purpose.
View full profile >
More company profiles

Featured Supplier

Panatta to showcase innovation at major fitness and bodybuilding events in 2024
Panatta will consolidate its global presence throughout 2024 by attending a host of major industry events around the globe.
View full details >
More featured suppliers

Property & Tenders

Location: Loughton, IG10
Company: Knight Frank
Location: Grantham, Leicestershire
Company: Belvoir Castle
Location: Verwood, Dorset
Company: AVISON YOUNG
Location: Hall Place House, Bexley, DA5 1PQ
Company: London Borough of Bexley
Location: 15 Concessions across the nation's forests
Company: Forestry England
More properties & tenders

Diary dates

11-14 Apr 2024
Exhibition Centre , Cologne, Germany
22-24 Apr 2024
Galgorm Resort, York
10-12 May 2024
China Import & Export Fair Complex, Guangzhou, China
23-24 May 2024
Large Hall of the Chamber of Commerce (Erbprinzenpalais), Wiesbaden, Germany
More diary dates