Duncan Bannatyne Opens His Health Club in Blackpool

Bannatyne Health Club in Blackpool opened in early August 2017, coinciding with the launch of a new spa facility that enhanced the club’s offering. The spa includes treatment rooms, manicure and pedicure stations, as well as access to the club’s sauna and other amenities. The health club combines state-of-the-art gym equipment and a broad selection of exercise classes with luxurious swimming pools and spa facilities, creating a balanced environment for both fitness and relaxation. The club is committed to continual investment, ensuring it remains at the forefront of industry trends while providing excellent facilities, modern equipment, and great value to its members. Duncan Bannatyne, born on 2 February 1949 in Clydebank, Scotland, is a well-known entrepreneur with diverse business interests spanning health clubs, hotels, media, television, stage schools, property, and transport. He is best recognised for his role as a business angel on the BBC’s Dragons’ Den. Bannatyne began his career in business after moving to Jersey in his twenties, where he met his first wife, and then relocating to Stockton-on-Tees in the North East of England. There, he purchased an ice cream van for £450 and gradually expanded the business before selling it for £28,000. He then founded a care home business, Quality Care Homes, which he sold in 1996 for £26 million. He also founded a children’s nursery chain, Just Learning, which sold for £22 million.

Following these successes, Bannatyne expanded into health clubs with the Bannatyne’s Health Clubs chain, as well as ventures into bars, hotels, and property. In August 2006, his company acquired 26 health clubs from Hilton Hotels, creating the largest independent health club chain in the UK. In October 2008, despite the financial crisis, Bannatyne opened the £12 million Bannatyne Spa Hotel in Hastings and revamped the spa chain. Bannatyne was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his charitable contributions. He is actively involved in supporting numerous causes, particularly those benefiting children, and is closely associated with charities such as Comic Relief and UNICEF.

Businessman Duncan Bannatyne in the gym at Bannatyne Health & Fitness Club in Chingford, Essex, to announce a 3-year partnership with sport nutrition specialists, Kinetica Sports.