17 Jan 2018
David Lloyd Leisure continues European growth with first French club
BY Deven Pamben
David Lloyd Leisure (DLL) has announced plans for further expansion into Europe after exchanging contracts for its first health club in France.
The group will invest £5m (US$6.9m, €5.7m) in refurbishing City Green Sport and Health Club, situated on the edge of Lake Geneva.
The deal, for an undisclosed sum, is due to be completed in March and the club will become the 112th in the DLL portfolio.
It means DLL will have 14 clubs in mainland Europe, in addition to 98 in the UK, catering to a total membership of about 580,000.
“City Green is our first club in France and the latest step of our ambitions European growth plans,” said Glenn Earlam, chief executive of DLL.
“We're looking to continue our expansion in our existing European territories of Spain, Holland, Belgium, Ireland and Italy, as well as breaking into other new markets.
“2018 promises to be a busy year for David Lloyd Leisure as we line up further acquisitions and we're well on track to achieve our target of 150 clubs by 2026.”
The City Green club is close to the border of France and Switzerland, and a 10-minute drive from Geneva city centre.
The facility is a family-focused, health and racquets club with facilities including 11 indoor and outdoor tennis courts, badminton and squash courts, and indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a spa, café and children’s soft play area.
Last year, DLL bought 14 Virgin Active clubs, opened its third premium brand Harbour Club in Kensington, London, and exchanged contracts to buy three other sites: The Park Club in west London, The Academy Club in Harrogate, and the Malaspina Sporting and Health Club in Milan – its first Italian site.
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