Which Dragon founded the Bannatyne Group, a major chain of health clubs in the United Kingdom?

Duncan Bannatyne founded the Bannatyne Group, a major chain of health clubs in the United Kingdom.

Duncan Bannatyne is a Scottish entrepreneur, author and philanthropist who became widely known as one of the original Dragons on the British programme. His business interests expanded from early ventures into care homes and other companies to health clubs, spas and hotels operating under the Bannatyne name.

The Bannatyne Group became particularly associated with fitness clubs and leisure facilities. This background gave Bannatyne direct experience of building a consumer-services business with physical locations, memberships and substantial operating costs.

Viewers sometimes confuse the Bannatyne Group with Bannatyne's television role and assume the company began as part of Dragons' Den. In fact, his business career and the group predated his appearance on the programme. Bannatyne joined the original investor panel and later left the show after its twelfth series, but the health-club group remained a separate business venture.