Exclusive: Colin Waggett to helm group of high-end London health clubs
Former Fitness First chief Colin Waggett has been named CEO of the as-yet-unnamed portfolio of high-end London health clubs owned by private investment firm Encore Capital.
Encore recently acquired the Third Space group – whose Soho and Marylebone clubs boast a range of celebrity members – as well as the Tower Bridge 37 Degrees health club for an undisclosed fee. These recent acquisitions, together with Encore’s ownership of the Reebok Sports Club in Canary Wharf underline its ambitious growth plans in the health and fitness sector.
Waggett, who made his name at Fitness First and then went on to launch Psycle, was unveiled to staff on Monday (11 May) and will now set about strategising and formulating the brand proposition. Further announcements are expected in the autumn with regards to the gym group's name and plans for growth.
“Our aspiration is to be the premium lifestyle club offering in London, serving the fitness savvy fashion conscious Londoner who also appreciates the very best quality in service, and interesting and innovative experiences,” Waggett told Health Club Management.
“I firmly believe there is a gap at the quality end of the market that we are perfectly set up to fill. We are immediately pressing on with a £3m club investment program at Tower Bridge, following on from the £6m invested in Canary Wharf last year, which is reflective of the aspirations of the owners to really make sure each and every club is of a truly outstanding quality.”
To read an exclusive interview with Encore Capital partner Shirin Gandhi, from the February 2015 edition of Health Club Management, click here.
UAE’s first Dior Spa debuts in Dubai at Dorchester Collection’s newest hotel, The Lana
Europe's premier Evian Spa unveiled at Hôtel Royal in France
Clinique La Prairie unveils health resort in China after two-year project
GoCo Health Innovation City in Sweden plans to lead the world in delivering wellness and new science
Four Seasons announces luxury wellness resort and residences at Amaala
Aman sister brand Janu debuts in Tokyo with four-floor urban wellness retreat
€38m geothermal spa and leisure centre to revitalise Croatian city of Bjelovar
Two Santani eco-friendly wellness resorts coming to Oman, partnered with Omran Group
Kerzner shows confidence in its Siro wellness hotel concept, revealing plans to open 100
Ritz-Carlton, Portland unveils skyline spa inspired by unfolding petals of a rose
Rogers Stirk Harbour & Partners are just one of the names behind The Emory hotel London and Surrenne private members club
Peninsula Hot Springs unveils AUS$11.7m sister site in Australian outback
IWBI creates WELL for residential programme to inspire healthy living environments
Conrad Orlando unveils water-inspired spa oasis amid billion-dollar Evermore Resort complex
Studio A+ realises striking urban hot springs retreat in China's Shanxi Province
Populous reveals plans for major e-sports arena in Saudi Arabia
Wake The Tiger launches new 1,000sq m expansion
Othership CEO envisions its urban bathhouses in every city in North America
Merlin teams up with Hasbro and Lego to create Peppa Pig experiences
SHA Wellness unveils highly-anticipated Mexico outpost
One&Only One Za’abeel opens in Dubai featuring striking design by Nikken Sekkei
Luxury spa hotel, Calcot Manor, creates new Grain Store health club
'World's largest' indoor ski centre by 10 Design slated to open in 2025
Murrayshall Country Estate awarded planning permission for multi-million-pound spa and leisure centre
Aman's Janu hotel by Pelli Clarke & Partners will have 4,000sq m of wellness space
Therme Group confirms Incheon Golden Harbor location for South Korean wellbeing resort
Universal Studios eyes the UK for first European resort
King of Bhutan unveils masterplan for Mindfulness City, designed by BIG, Arup and Cistri
Rural locations are the next frontier for expansion for the health club sector
Tonik Associates designs new suburban model for high-end Third Space health and wellness club
From Nobu Restaurants and Ian Schrager’s latest hotel to Imagination Playgrounds and the set design for The Rocky Horror Show, US architect and designer David Rockwell always keeps it fresh. He tells us the secrets of his creativity