Escape Fitness, the UK-based fitness equipment manufacturer, is working with Pure Health & Fitness, the health club firm, to roll out its new concept in Poland.

Founded by James Balfour, son of Fitness First’s Mile Balfour, and Tony Cowen, former operations director at Fitness First, Pure has launched its first club in the Blue City shopping mall in Warsaw.

The 1,700sq m (18,298sq ft) facility has the capacity for around 4,000 members and uses equipment from Escape’s Reebok professional range including decks, mats, gym balls and medicine balls.

Pure expects to open three to five sites in 2009 and up to eight clubs in 2010 in Central and Eastern Europe. Its next club launches in Krakow on 2 January. A third club will follow in Warsaw in February.

Matthew Januszek, customer solutions director of Escape Fitness says: “We look forward to supporting Pure as they expand across Eastern Europe, which is big opportunity not only for Escape, but the fitness industry generally.

"Since we opened our office and distribution centre near Gdansk in Poland, we have seen many positive developments and we believe we are well placed to support other operators who expand in this part of the world.”