IT'S not every day that your job brings you into contact with Hollywood superstars - and it's even less likely that you'll end up working out with them. But that's exactly what's happened to Mike Gallagher during his career.

Mike, 35, recently moved back to his native North-East to take up the post of leisure manager at Redworth Hall Hotel in County Durham.

Redworth is a favoured hotel of the stars, particularly sportsmen, when they visit the region, because of its excellent leisure facilities.

But it was when Mike worked at the world -famous Gleneagles hotel in Scotland that he met some of the big screen's best known names.

John Travolta, Michael Douglas and Jack Nicholson were just some of the stars who worked out in the hotel gym. A qualified personal trainer, Mike also devised fitness programmes for Sylvester Stallone's wife Jennifer Flavin, and Scotland's own snooker ace Stephen Hendry.

Father-of-two Mike grew up in Acklam, Middlesbrough. After St George's School, he studied leisure management at Longlands College before joining the team at Gleneagles.

"It was just an incredible experience. I'll probably never do anything like it again," he says. "It's not every day you come to work in the same place as John Travolta, who was there when Pulp Fiction was being made."

During his five years in Scotland, Mike co-ordinated a sporting charity event that meant mixing with Sean Connery, Gene Hackman, Jackie Stewart and the Duke of York, who raised £500,000 for charity.

After Gleneagles, Mike moved to the five star De Vere Oulton Hall in Leeds as leisure manager. Prior to moving to Redworth Hall he was general manager with the Kingsway Leisure Club Group.

One of his early aims at Redworth is to bring back the Flame Award for best club in Great Britain which the hotel's health club won two years ago.

Recently, the club has undergone alterations and a major refit which has included a new, much larger gym, refurbishment of the changing rooms, a new sauna and a purpose-built beauty salon.

The most important aspect of running a health club Mike has learned over the years, is customer service. "A lot of hotels claim to be five star when they aren't," he says. "Gleneagles is a top class hotel with guests to match. Working with people like that demands that you work to the highest standards.

"Jackie Stewart is probably one of the most organised people I've met and if the slightest thing was out of place he'd pick up on it. You have to adapt to working at that level - I remember it was a shock for me on my first day - but it just makes you ensure that you keep up that high standard all the time.

"The members at Redworth Hall also expect high standards. A lot of clubs are keen to take your money but don't follow that up with good customer service. I hope what I've learned in my career will show at Redworth."

l Bodysense is offering a 12 Days of Fitness pre-Christmas gift voucher which entitles the holder to use all the club's facilities from December 1-12. Each voucher costs £30 which can be redeemed against the cost of becoming a member.

l We have teamed up with Bodysense to offer readers the chance to spend a complimentary day at the health club enjoying the facilities, which include the gym, swimming pool, sauna, steam room and spa bath. Visitors can also pay for beauty treatments at the Emmanais salon or hair appointments at Saks. To qualify, just collect FOUR different Bodysense articles, then contact the health club to book your free day on (01388) 770649.