The Virgin Active gym at Falmer has been sold to David Lloyd Leisure, it was announced today (Tuesday 7 February).
The gym, in Village Way, on the Brighton University campus, is one of 16 to be sold to David Lloyd for an undisclosed sum.
The sale is conditional – contracts have been exchanged – and the two companies expect to complete the deal in the second quarter, from April to June.
Virgin bought the Brighton Sports and Racquets Club from Esporta in April 2011.
In an email to members, Virgin said that staff at the Falmer club would be transferring to David Lloyd as part of the deal. David Lloyd already has a gym at Brighton Marina.
The email said: “I am writing to advise you that we have reached an agreement to sell Virgin Active Brighton and a selection of other clubs to David Lloyd Clubs.
“These clubs are highly successful but they now fall outside our focus in the UK which, in line with our international growth strategy, is to develop and operate sites in metropolitan and commuter hubs. Virgin Active will continue to operate 45 clubs in the UK.
“David Lloyd Clubs is a leading health and fitness group, and already has 80 clubs across the UK, with a further 12 in Europe. It’s committed to investing into this club so that you can continue to benefit from market-leading facilities.
“The transfer of the clubs to David Lloyd Clubs remains conditional and we expect the transfers to take place at the end of April at the earliest.
“Your membership will be transferred automatically to David Lloyd Clubs when your club transfers.
“As soon as we can confirm the date of the transfer we’ll be writing to you with further details.
“We anticipate that all the services that you currently have access to will remain the same and that David Lloyd Clubs will be adding to the programming in the future.
“David Lloyd Clubs are committed to maintaining a warm and friendly club environment, with families being able to take advantage of a range of fun activities.
“Rest assured that during the period leading up to the transfer to David Lloyd Clubs it will be business as usual, with opening hours, group exercise classes, and other activities offered remaining the same.
“I can confirm that the club team will be transferring to David Lloyd Clubs with the club and we will all be working together to ensure that this is a smooth transition for you as a member.”
David Lloyd, founded by the 69-year-old former tennis player of the same name, said: “David Lloyd Leisure, one of the UK’s leading health and fitness club businesses, announced today that it has exchanged contracts to acquire 16 health clubs from Virgin Active for an undisclosed sum.
“The transaction will bring the total number of David Lloyd Leisure clubs to 111 and is expected to complete in the second quarter of 2017.
“David Lloyd Leisure (DLL) currently operates 83 clubs in the UK with a further 12 in the Netherlands, Belgium and Spain.
“Since being acquired by private equity company TDR in 2013, and with the appointment of a new CEO, Glenn Earlam, in 2015, David Lloyd Leisure has embarked on a major programme to improve the quality and services available in its existing clubs.
“To date the company has invested more than £120 million in refurbishing and developing its existing estate, including opening five new-build clubs.
“As part of this programme the company is committed to developing the newly acquired Virgin Active clubs to deliver an enhanced members experience which is both consistent with the David Lloyd Clubs brand and which reflects local member needs.”
