Virgin Active has continued its three-year, £100m investment in its UK portfolio with the unveiling of the refurbished Salford Quays site in Manchester.

Despite having recently seen South African investment powerhouse Brait acquire a controlling stake in the business, the gym chain founded by Sir Richard Branson is pushing forward with plans to modernise its 100-strong UK portfolio.

As part of this, the Salford Quays Virgin Active, which is a favourite haunt of BBC talent working at nearby Media City, has undergone a £4.5m refurb.

The upgrade has seen the club’s gym floor, group exercise studios, changing rooms and swimming pool transformed, with an additional 1,400sq ft (130sq m) being added to the club.

The club features one of the newest additions to Virgin Active sites ‘The Grid’ – a functional training space where members can take one of four intense 30-minute classes, each on six core movements of push, pull, squat, lunge, twist and bend.

In addition, the gym has been reinvigorated with the addition of several pieces of specialised kit, including Wattbikes, Woodway Curve treadmills, Water Rowers and InBody Trackers.

Elsewhere, the group exercise studios have had a complete makeover and have doubled in size, while the brand new group cycle studio has been kitted out with 36 Technogym bikes.

“It is hugely exciting to reveal our completely refurbished club with its new look and feel to the community,” said Virgin Active Salford Quays general manager Shaun Cassidy.

“We hope the new facilities were worth the wait and will inspire and motivate more local people to come and see all that Virgin Active has to offer.’’