David Lloyd investing £2.5m in children’s brand as obesity rises
LEISURE group David Lloyd plans to invest £2.5m in its children’s arm after rising public concern over the level of obesity among Britain’s young.
It said DL Kids will open facilities at David Lloyd Finchley in North London and Beckenham in Kent in December. It will also open its first continental centre in Barcelona in September.
The new centres will include mini-sports halls, interactive classrooms and provide sports coaching, arts and crafts and hundreds of types of games, it said.
Scott Lloyd, chief executive, said: “The success of our pilot DL Kids facilities in Raynes Park (in south-west London) and in Leeds is encouraging and we believe DL Kids has the capability to be a scalable branded format with roll out potential in both the UK and international markets.”
Other David Lloyd Leisure clubs in Cambridge, Enfield, Southampton and Edinburgh will also receive cash to upgrade their children’s facilities.
A third of British children are overweight or obese despite a wealth of government health initiatives.
David Lloyd said it has seen a three per cent net growth in junior members since the start of the year.
The group has more than 450,000 members and 6,000 staff.