Holmes Place plans European expansion

Holmes Place is set to open its first club in Cologne at the beginning of this month.

The 45,000sq ft health club will be the group’s third in Germany and there are plans to open a further four – one more in Cologne, one in Lubeck and two in Dussledorf – by the end of the year.

The Cologne club will follow the Holmes Place model with extensive wellness facilities including a swimming pool, plunge pool, large gym, three aerobics studios, a clubroom and two restaurants.

To fit in with the German market, the saunas and steamrooms will be kept at different temperatures to UK clubs and there will be a larger than normal relaxation area.

“The economy’s pretty nasty in Germany at the moment, but it’s a non-compromised, well-designed, beautiful club and it’s in a very good position to do well,” says Nick Coutts, European regional director at Holmes Place.

As part of continuing expansion plans, Holmes Place opened a number of clubs throughout Europe last month.

The sites – all ranging from 40,000 to 50,000sq ft – are in Urquinaona, Barcelona; Hamburg, Germany; Cacais and Arrabida, Portugal and Salzburg, Austria.

A further two European sites are set to open this year. One, in Miraslores, Lisbon will open in July and another, in Opcion, Madrid will open in September. “Our growth profile will be slower than previously, but in the end it’s the quality of the product that wins,” says Coutts.