Next month will see the opening of the second Domyos Club in France, with the relaunch of an existing club in Aix en Provence under the Domyos umbrella.

The Domyos concept was originally introduced in Lille and has proved such a success that the owner - Oxylane Group, which also owns the Décathlon brand of retail outlets and sports equipment - decided to transform its Aix club, originally opened in 2001, to the same model.

The 2,400sq m site now includes a 700sq m gym floor as well as four studios offering 100 classes a week.

The two clubs target the mass market. Monthly membership costs Ä45, or Ä5 an hour, with the hourly rate contributing significantly to revenues - the Lille club sold 185,000 hours in 2009, with 5,500 people attending classes every week.

Located in 10,000sq m 'Oxylane Villages' that encompass restaurants and indoor/outdoor sports activities, easy access is at the heart of the concept, and 40 per cent of customers are said to be brand new to the gym environment. A third site is planned for the city of Lyon.