A health and fitness club has been given a £500,000 refurbishment and added new facilities and equipment for members.

Bannatyne Norwich West, formerly known as Carrefour Norwich, at Costessey, now has brand new cardiovascular and resistance equipment installed on its gym floor, and an expanded free weights section which now contains new plate loaded equipment.

It follows The Bannatyne Group's purchase of the club last month.

Shaun Cable, the club's general manager, said: 'The new gym floor is a great addition to the club.

'The new equipment is the best that money can buy and will help members achieve their fitness and health goals more effectively.

'The company has developed and improved the gym floor to further enhance the range of functional training equipment available to members.'

Other technological improvements include heart-rate monitoring and wi-fi equipment, and two additional studios which are fitted with virtual class facilities.

This allows members to take part in spin and fitness classes at a time that suits them.

The club now also offers Technogym Queenax, a new training system designed to maximise members' interaction.

It covers all aspects of training including strength, endurance, stability, flexibility, coordination and speed.

Mr Cable added: 'Functional training is the way the industry is progressing, and focuses on training movement patterns rather than isolating individual muscle groups.

'The new equipment provides fantastic fat burning workouts and will improve strength, endurance and boost metabolism.

'Alongside the gym floor the club offers a swimming pool, sauna, steam room, and a café bar.'

The café bar is set to undergo a refurbishment of its own in the summer.

The club has around 1,700 members.

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