Fitness First

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Fitness First is a chain of health clubs that claims to be the largest in the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia and the Asia-Pacific region.

In 1993 Mike Balfour and Christopher Pearce opened a health club in Bournemouth, England. Within the next three years, six more clubs had been built and Fitness First became the first health and fitness company to float on the Alternative Investment Market. It is now in 15 countries with over 500 clubs servicing over 1.2 million people.

In 2003 Fitness First was taken into private ownership with Cinven, one of the leading UK private equity houses as majority shareholder. At this time John Lovering (one of the most experienced and respected figures in the UK retail and leisure field) became Chairman and Christopher Pearce moved to a non executive director role.

Because it was first set up in Bournemouth, the company director decided to sponsor the new AFC Bournemouth stadium. The new grounds is call the Fitness First stadium. But because of the old stadium was call Dean Court, the ground is called Dean Court and the stadium is called the Fitness First.

In Australia, Fitness First took over a number of Living Well locations owned by the Hilton Group.