David Lloyd Leisure (DLL) has exchanged contracts to buy 16 Virgin Active health clubs for an undisclosed sum.  

 The deal will bring the total number of DLL clubs to 111 and is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2017. 

The clubs are in Berkshire, Brighton, Clearview, Dorset, Glamorgan, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Lanarkshire, Lancashire, Lichfield, Norfolk, Northwood, Surrey, Thorpe Wood, Warwickshire and Wearside.

DLL operates 83 clubs in the UK with a further 12 in the Netherlands, Belgium and Spain, including its latest club at Aravaca, Madrid which opened last week (1 February).

Since being acquired by private equity company TDR in 2013, DLL has embarked on a major programme to improve existing clubs. To date the company has invested more than £120m in refurbishing and developing its estate, including the opening of five new-build clubs. 

The Virgin deal underlines DLL’s aggressive growth strategy in the UK and across Europe. Five clubs have opened in the last 16 months in Newbury, Rouken Glen (Glasgow), Colchester, Antwerp in Belgium, and now Madrid in Spain. 

Commenting on the Virgin deal, Glenn Earlam chief executive officer, said: “The acquisition of these new sites will be a great move for us, and will greatly accelerate our medium term growth plans in the UK allowing us to concentrate more on our move into European markets. Most importantly they move David Lloyd Leisure into several important new areas of the country, reaching new local markets and meaning that far more of the UK’s population can take advantage of our health and fitness facilities.

“Most importantly, we are committed to investing and developing these newly acquired clubs, which is great news for both team and members at these clubs. We look forward to welcoming them all to David Lloyd Clubs.”

This is the second time within a year that Virgin has sold off a number of its clubs. In June last year, Nuffield Health acquired 35 Virgin sites.