THE new improved Browns has a wider perspective on the world of health

and fitness than its predecessor. On one side of this new perspective is

a sophisticated nightclub and at the other end of the scale it includes

beauty treatments and a diagnostic centre, primed to cope with stress

and weight concerns, which is almost a holistic approach to health --

taking in some happy hedonism with a dash of recuperative care.

Browns, the nightclub, is opening to the public and

members on Friday and Saturday nights. Remodelled completely

differently from the black panelling of the former Cueball disco, it

offers a relaxed, comfortable setting for late-night socialising and the

new owner sees it as an ideal weekend attraction for the over-25s sector

of the market.

Built on two levels with a mezzanine floor, it provides both a chance

to dance and the space to talk for a market which would rather relate

than rave from the hours of 10pm to 2am. It is seen as an upmarket

nightclub for discerning Southsiders to come to -- a singles type of

place where people can meet in a relaxed atmosphere.

As part of this new venture into the leisure and entertainment field,

Browns the health and fitness club now also caters for private functions

and seminars in a variety of room sizes. The club can cope with a small

seminar for 30 or with a 100 or so for a small twenty-first through to

numbers of 200-300 or 500 in the main disco for bigger occasions.

Revellers might also like to consider its beauty department for the

day after. Treatments range from aromatherapy, where clients are

massaged with essentials oils intended either specifically to relax or

refresh, and reflexology during which trained specialists massage and

home in on areas of physical difficulty through the feet.

Other options, also supervised by trained therapists, include waxing

and Ultra-slim, electric slimming devices which whittle away iches

through passive exercise by making the muscles pulse.

Massage is an essential component of Browns' stress clinic, where

clients can work on their stress levels constructively through

monitoring, diet, exercise, and relaxation.

The clinic includes a diagnostic service with a computer which can

assess cholestrol, blood fat levels, and pressure. From this, staff can

then assess a client's needs in terms of a combined package of diet and

exercise schedules.

Soothing treatments are available for overstressed executives who want

to get the business day's knots out of their tense muscles.

The manager however, expects the clinic to appeal to more than just

the business community as an awareness of stress and its possible

knock-on effects on health grows in many sectors, particularly among

those who already recognise the need to look after their body.

He explained: ''More and more people, who are already involved with

the sports side, are increasingly wanting to take a total fitness

approach.

''People now recognise that it is not always enough just to get

physically fit through exercise, but that they have to consider other

factors.''