Work is due to finish on the refurbishment of The Windsor Fitness and Rackets Club this month, which opened recently on the site of the former Cannons Health Club in Windsor.

The facility is owned by Chris Gotla, a former director of the Cannons Group and Steve Lewis, founder and chief executive of the Axis Group, which was sold to Crown sports in 2001.

Around £250,000 has been invested to refurbish the 22,000sq ft facility, which includes a 4,000sq ft gym, squash courts, dance studio and bar. The new owners also aim to increase member ship from 1,200 to 1,800.

“The major players in this industry have essentially lost the sense of club in their facilities,” said Lewis – who wants to create a culture where members feel they are among friends. “It may take months or years to create this culture, but we will concentrate on running clubs, not rolling them out.”