Nuffield Health has cranked up its bid for a greater London presence with the acquisition of two health clubs on the doorstep of the city.

The acquisitions of the CityPoint Club (in Moorgate) and Market Sports (in Shoreditch) – both for an undisclosed fee – gives Nuffield the opportunity to expand its employee wellbeing services to existing corporate customers in the City and engage with new ones. Both sites feature comprehensive gym and studio offerings, as well as extensive wet facilities.

“These acquisitions complement our current offering in London, enabling us to support more local people with our unique integrated health and wellbeing proposition,” said Nuffield Health MD Andrew Jones.

“The addition of the CityPoint club in Moorgate, alongside our existing club at Cannon Street, increases our reach across the City enabling us to offer healthchecks and physiotherapy to more of London’s workforce.”

The latest acquisitions form part of a long-term strategy to create a national network of health, fitness and wellbeing centres and increase its presence in key UK cities.

Nuffield Health last year signed £330m of debt facilities as the charity bids to widen its footprint in the UK health club market as part of a push towards integrated care pathways.

A Nuffield spokesperson confirmed that the new funds would be used to aid expansion, while the company’s deputy chief executive KP Doyle told Leisure Opportunities in an interview that more health club takeovers were likely, particularly in the capital.

Doyle said after the acquisition of nine Virgin Active sites in August last year: “We’ll certainly be looking at more deals like this, particularly in markets where we’re underrepresented like London, where we want to boost overall integrated wellness offerings, with more diagnostic facilities as well.”

After taking control of the latest London sites, Nuffield Health now operates 77 consumer gyms and 208 corporate fitness and wellbeing sites across the UK.