Holmes Place has announced plans to launch in India on a franchise basis, with the signing of a master franchise agreement and the first club set to open in August 2011.

Located in Bangalore, the site is an existing club currently operating under the Zela Luxury Health Club brand and owned by Holmes Place's new Indian partner, Health and Wellness India.

When it re-opens as Holmes Place, the club will offer a gym - equipped by Life Fitness, Precor and Cybex - a group exercise studio, group cycling studio, indoor swimming pool and a spa. Services will include personal training, nutritional counselling, physiotherapy and sports medicine. Membership will cost around €600 a year, or €940 for a couple.

In terms of expansion plans, Holmes Place Group CEO Jonathan Fisher says: "We're not in a 'rush' mentality for India.

“We prefer to focus on quality not quantity when it comes to our club portfolio.

“Having said that, the Indian market is of unprecedented size for Holmes Place and, if you bear in mind that the franchise in Israel opened 18 clubs in a 10-year period, you begin to see the potential."

Holmes Place is already planning the opening of a second club in India at the end of 2011 and also aims to expand into Brazil, Russia and China through franchise arrangements.