British-based David Lloyd Leisure plans to open three more fitness centres in Dublin and more in other urban areas in Ireland, the company said yesterday at the official opening of its first Dublin centre in Clonskeagh.

"We are actively looking elsewhere in Dublin and at other cities such as Cork," said Mr Steven Philpott, managing director of the Whitbread-owned chain of fitness centres. "If you look at the size of Dublin as a market for fitness and sports, we would expect to have three or four clubs in the city. To put it in perspective, we have 14 clubs in London and three in Manchester."

While the company did not reveal how much it planned to spend on the Irish market, it has spent £12 million (€15.24 million) buying and refurbishing the former River View fitness centre in Clonskeagh. Employing more than 100 people, the centre includes an indoor and outdoor pool, 11 outdoor tennis courts, a 10,000 sq ft gym, four squash courts, restaurant and nursery.

With the centre offering such extensive facilities, Mr Philpott conceded it would not be among the cheapest in the city. Prices started at £55 a month for an individual and peak at £85 a month, depending on the type of membership, he said.

"We certainly wouldn't be one of the cheapest, but 3,200 people don't think it is too expensive," said Mr Philpott. "If you compare it to a normal gym, it's expensive, but if you're using it as a club as most of our members do three or four times a week, it's very cheap leisure time."

Mr Philpott said the fitness centre market in Britain was growing at 30 per cent per annum and expected the market in Ireland to develop along similar lines. He said the opening of the Irish centre was the first step in a plan to expand into Europe.

David Lloyd Leisure, which now has 44 centres, reported sales of £100 million sterling (€167.6 million) for the year to the end of February 2000, he said. Profits before tax stood at £23 million sterling.

David Lloyd Leisure was set up in 1982 by former Davis Cup tennis player Mr David Lloyd. In 1993, it was floated on the London Stock Exchange at a value of £60 million sterling.

In 1995, leisure company Whitbread bought the fitness centre chain for around £200 million sterling. Earlier this week, Whitbread set out plans to sell off 140 restaurants from its various restaurant chains.