Celebrity trainer Kevin Barclay-Webb is expanding his Fitness Lounge concept overseas following its UK debut.

Launched in London in April this year, the Fitness Lounge concept is expanding via franchises with seven sites in the UK and 15 worldwide planned by the end of 2005.

Fitness Lounges are due to open in Greece and Kuwait by the end of this year, with further sites planned for Saudi Arabia, Beruit and London in early 2005.

Around 12,000-15,000sq ft in size, the Fitness Lounge in Hampstead, north London is located in a retail outlet and Barclay-Webb said the concept is suitable for any commercial and corporate spaces with high footfalls.

The centre has a Vibrogym. which uses vibrational and unweighted training to train people of all ages and abilities. The company claims the equipment is particularly suitable for the elderly, those with injuries or suffering physical ailments such as ME, fibromyalgia and arthritis.

The centre currently has around 60 members, six of which are wheelchair users. Members pay £125 for an initial assessment – which looks at core stability, flexibility, posture and body fat – and between £50 and £100 per month thereafter for unlimited use of the facilities. Pay-as-you-go membership is also available from £5 to £15 per session.

Members are advised to train for 30 minutes three times a week.

The Fitness Lounge provides personal trainers to all clients for all their training sessions and a tailored fitness programme, which is re-evaluated every four weeks.

It also employs disabled personal fitness trainers and has full disabled access.

In addition to this, the facility also has a Human Performance Centre. The centre provides one-to-one sessions for clients with a range of requirements from athletes through to stroke victims and paraplegics. Clients can purchase 12 sessions costing £50 each and get their money back if they fail to see results.