Anytime Fitness, the world’s fastest growing fitness franchise, today celebrates reaching over 50 clubs in the UK, with the opening of two new sites in High Barnet, North London and Bicester, Oxfordshire.

The number of Anytime Fitness clubs in the UK has grown steadily since its launch in 2010 and the company hopes to open another 30 clubs in the UK by the end of the year, which would take its total to 81. The company already has 150 sites secured for future club openings, which when completed, will position Anytime Fitness as the largest health and fitness club in the UK based on number of sites.

Andy Thompson, UK Chairman at Anytime Fitness, says: “Since we launched in the UK in 2010 we have set ourselves ambitious growth targets and therefore we are delighted to have reached this key milestone.

“A key factor in our success is the passion and enthusiasm of our franchisees, many of whom have always wanted to own their own business, and are now flourishing with the support of our expert franchise consultants. It’s also great to see such a diverse range of people attracted to Anytime Fitness and the franchise industry, as demonstrated by the owners of our two latest clubs.”

Anytime Fitness Bicester is owned by first-time franchisees, Catherine Cook, Lesley Thompson and Steve Halsall, who have identified the town, one of the fastest growing in the UK, as an ideal location for a 24-hour health and fitness club.

Anytime Fitness in High Barnet is run by 28 year old Tom Norbury, an Oxford Brookes graduate, who opened his first club in in Basingstoke in 2012 and harbours ambitions of opening a further three sites.

Tom says: “Our club members are driven to achieving their goals by having access to smaller, more convenient 24-hour fitness clubs that are fitted with state-of-the art-equipment, and that are staffed by trainers who know our members well enough to help them realise their fitness goals – whatever they may be.”

Tom believes the community spirit that Anytime Fitness creates is an integral part of the happiness of both franchisees and members. He says: “Anytime Fitness works hard to offer people a member experience which is unique to the fitness industry. Franchisees and their staff truly value members and want to help them improve not only their fitness, but also their confidence and general well-being. The club culture is brilliant and contributes to the sense of community, which is a key differentiator in what is a crowded market place.”

Catherine Cook believes Anytime Fitness has created a proposition which will be a key differentiator in attracting members from in and around Bicester. She says “Anytime Fitness fills a niche for people who appreciate quality equipment, private bathrooms and great service, and value not having to pay for additional facilities that they rarely use.

“Furthermore, we will be the only 24-hour club in Bicester, which makes us the only choice for many workers. The fact that members can use their Anytime Fitness security fob to access any club in our network means that as more and more clubs open across the UK, this feature becomes increasingly relevant, especially to those who live and work in different locations.”