US-based health club operator Anytime Fitness is preparing to open its first UK club in Bristol next week.

The opening is part of plans to open 50 Anytime-branded sites in the UK and Ireland by the end of 2012 after the parent company secured a master franchise agreement.

The chain, which is looking to expand its international operations, currently operates 1,250 clubs in the US and has also opened nearly 100 facilities in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico and India.

Other potential sites in the UK are being considered in the Greater London area and across southern England, with locations including suburban markets near large cities and smaller towns that do not have a health club.

Anytime Fitness' UK clubs will be around 4,000sq ft (371.6sq m) in size, fitted with a range of cv and strength machines, supplied by Precor, and open 24 hours a day. Membership is likely to cost between £25 and £35 per month.

Justin McDonell, Anytime Fitness master franchisee for Australia and New Zealand, has been appointed to lead the master franchise group for the UK and Ireland.

McDonell said: "We will not be making any significant changes to the Anytime Fitness model as it currently exists in the US, Australia and New Zealand.

"We believe the opportunity exists for smaller, neighborhood clubs in the UK and Ireland, providing greater convenience and high service standards, which will appeal to existing club users in those markets and also will encourage new customers to participate."

Independent retail planning consultant Andy Thompson - also part of the group's UK and Ireland consortium - added: "We hope to open the first Anytime Fitness club in the UK by the end of this summer.

"We are currently looking at sites in the Greater London area, the South East and also the South West of England. Our plan is to have 50 clubs operational by end of 2012."