V-Flyer

I know this should be in other Virgin companies, but there is not a section it fits!!

Announced in the financial/Buisness sections today, that SRB is in negotiations to buy the Bally Total Fitness chain for £570 Million

Is there anything that man doesn't/can't own/run/buy/do/accomplish?! [^]

Virgin Trains?

[:(!]

Well I've never experienced them myself so can't really comment. But what happened to the chain of undies stores? The one in Guildford lasted abot a year if that, before it shut down. Is it a national thing - do they exist anywhere else? (I think they were called VirginWare)

[?]

Victoria's Secret it is then. Aw shucks!

Originally posted by Vslf
Virgin Trains?

I quite like Virgin Trains. Though have to admit not quite as good as First Great Western now they have stopped crashing their trains.

I assume they will become part of Virgin Active.

Mat xxx

Originally posted by GatorBaiter
Well I've never experienced them myself so can't really comment. But what happened to the chain of undies stores? The one in Guildford lasted abot a year if that, before it shut down. Is it a national thing - do they exist anywhere else? (I think they were called VirginWare)

AFAIK, the company who produced the underwear for Virgin Ware went into administration earlier this year, although they are looking for alternative suppliers. Virgin Ware is the brand name for the whole clothing company, although i have not seen anything other than the underwear range.

Thanks,
Sarah

Oh right, thanks for the info, Sarah [y] I've never seen anything of the clothing either. Closest was a t-shirt I got at the British Superbikes with the Virgin Yamaha logo on.

I thought Bally Total Fitness was a American base company? [:?] [:?] I know my wife uses them back home in Miami didn't know they was also in London but I'm sure one of the expert will clarify that for me.

Originally posted by GatorBaiter
Is there anything that man doesn't/can't own/run/buy/do/accomplish?! [^]

Yeah - BMI for the moment [:(] But who knows - someday it might happen.

Does Virgin not already have a foot in the fitness centre business in the UK?

I believe the new South stand at Twickenham will incorporate a Virgin Fitness club.

Phil

Originally posted by BuffyTVS65
Does Virgin not already have a foot in the fitness centre business in the UK?

They do indeed - Virgin Active.

Virgin Active is now wholley owned by the Virgin Group after the bought the remaining 35% share. The other owners wanted to float Virgin Active relatively quickly, whereas Virgin wanted to build the brand and number of locations first. Virgin won and this is part of that strategy, and yes this is the American company they are looking at. They started asking for offers a few months ago apparently - they are in a right mess financially. $760m debts with $300million of assets IIRC.

Mat xxx

Originally posted by Vslf
Virgin Trains?

[:(!]

I think what Virgin have done with trains has been pretty impressive, the sexy pendilinos wizzing past my office every few minutes are certainly an accomplishment. And you can't really blame virgin for the tracks they have to run on, and indeed the pricing structure is pretty much dictated by the franchise framework.

Will this take over include the American centers as well?

He could do with buying Healthland in Wolverhampton thats recently gone bust.
If I got flying club miles for every step stepped or minute jogged I would get rid of the stomoch in no time! [^]

Dean

Originally posted by Wolves27
He could do with buying Healthland in Wolverhampton thats recently gone bust.
If I got flying club miles for every step stepped or minute jogged I would get rid of the stomoch in no time! [^]

Dean

Funny what motaves us! [:o)]

Nearly always miles [:p]

Dean

Originally posted by GatorBaiter


Victoria's Secret it is then. Aw shucks!

Pictures please (beg, beg, beg) [:o)][:o)][:o)]

My comment about Virgin Trains is largely historic. I agree they have improved dramatically, but go back a few years and remember what they were like. The difference between the advertised product and the actual product at the time was ridiculous, typical aspirational Virgin advertising, but with the constraints at the time (track, rolling stock etc) the product was late, dirty, expensive and the service surly.

My beef was this gap, SRB would have been better keeping his head down and waiting for the product to improve before crowing about how wonderful it was - when it was patently dreadful to everyone who had to use it regularly.

Vslf

This follows the recent purchase of all Esporta Gyms a few months back. If this new deal goes through Virgin Active will have quite a large number of locations.

Meant to post about this when the news broke here several days ago, but work's been a bit hectic.

Thanks, Alan, for the news! BTW here is a link to the Bally's website.

Chuck-