Dave Whelan will acquire the majority Fitness First's clubs
DW Sports owner Dave Whelan expects to take over 63 Fitness First gyms within the next two weeks.
In an interview with the Wigan Evening Post, the former Wigan Athletic chairman confirmed that DW Sports would be “getting 63 health clubs which are mainly in the south of England where DW does not have so much of a presence.”
Some sites will be in the London area.
Health Club Management reported in June that DW Sports was in talks to take over the Fitness First portfolio. There are 65 Fitness First clubs in the UK. Whelan told the Wigan newspaper he was not interested in any of the overseas sites.
Whelan also told the publication that he was “not expecting any trouble from the competition people” and that once the deal is secured the company will have around 130 outlets in England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales.
If the deal goes through it will rival Pure Gym, which has become the UK’s largest private operator, with more than 160 clubs.
DW Sports takeover of Fitness First: The mid-market fights back POSTED 01 Jul 2016. BY Jak Phillips The potential takeover of Fitness First UK by Dave Whelan’s DW Sports would mark the
start of a mid-market fightback against the rise of the budget clubs, according to a well-
placed source.
DW Sports director launches new Best’s Bootcamp boutique POSTED 20 May 2016. BY Jak Phillips DW Sports Fitness director Scott Best has moved into the booming boutique studio sector
with the launch of his first Best’s Bootcamp site in London’s Charing Cross.
£3m DW Fitness Club to open in Lincoln POSTED 07 Jan 2013. BY Aoife Dowling DW Sports Fitness Club is set to launch a new £3m gym in Lincoln, UK in March.
Italian Exhibition Group – the organiser behind industry events Dubai Active and Dubai Muscle
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It’s been five years since the fitness industry reopened after the last lockdown – long enough
to look back on the impact the pandemic had on the sector and what might come next.
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Dave Whelan will acquire the majority Fitness First's clubs
DW Sports owner Dave Whelan expects to take over 63 Fitness First gyms within the next two weeks.
In an interview with the Wigan Evening Post, the former Wigan Athletic chairman confirmed that DW Sports would be “getting 63 health clubs which are mainly in the south of England where DW does not have so much of a presence.”
Some sites will be in the London area.
Health Club Management reported in June that DW Sports was in talks to take over the Fitness First portfolio. There are 65 Fitness First clubs in the UK. Whelan told the Wigan newspaper he was not interested in any of the overseas sites.
Whelan also told the publication that he was “not expecting any trouble from the competition people” and that once the deal is secured the company will have around 130 outlets in England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales.
If the deal goes through it will rival Pure Gym, which has become the UK’s largest private operator, with more than 160 clubs.
DW Sports takeover of Fitness First: The mid-market fights back POSTED 01 Jul 2016. BY Jak Phillips The potential takeover of Fitness First UK by Dave Whelan’s DW Sports would mark the
start of a mid-market fightback against the rise of the budget clubs, according to a well-
placed source.
DW Sports director launches new Best’s Bootcamp boutique POSTED 20 May 2016. BY Jak Phillips DW Sports Fitness director Scott Best has moved into the booming boutique studio sector
with the launch of his first Best’s Bootcamp site in London’s Charing Cross.
£3m DW Fitness Club to open in Lincoln POSTED 07 Jan 2013. BY Aoife Dowling DW Sports Fitness Club is set to launch a new £3m gym in Lincoln, UK in March.
Italian Exhibition Group – the organiser behind industry events Dubai Active and Dubai Muscle
Show – has been appointed to deliver the Health and Wellness Expo and Fire and Safety Expo at
the 16th World Firefighters Games.
It’s been five years since the fitness industry reopened after the last lockdown – long enough
to look back on the impact the pandemic had on the sector and what might come next.
Wattbike has announced a new integration with EGYM, which enables the bikes to contribute to
the Cardio BioAge score of individuals via a VO2 max result.
Les Mills has launched a reformer Pilates workout. The 45-minute workout blends traditional
reformer movements and more contemporary exercises, choreographed to music.
Panatta brought together four of the most influential figures in bodybuilding history on the
stage of RiminiWellness 2026: Phil Heath, Lee Haney, Ronnie Coleman and Hany Rambod. [more...]
+ More featured suppliers
COMPANY PROFILES
Precor Precor promises precision-quality products with steadfast reliability that are inspired by exerciser [more...]