ONCE upon a time he was the party king of Manchester - owning his own celebrity-packed nightclub and hosting champagne parties `til dawn.

But now former bar boss Christian Coates is hoping to have a somewhat more positive impact on our lifestyles - by launching a health and fitness firm.

The new year has brought quite a career change for the man who launched the city centre's Cocoa Rooms in a burst of publicity at the start of 2006. He left the club less than a year after it opened - and jetted off for some soul-searching in Miami.

And now he's back in Manchester with a brand new career - launching the health and fitness "lifestyle consultancy" Soulmate Foods and Fitness with the aiming of making us all get in the best mental and physical shape of our lives.

The company, based in North Manchester, will combine healthy eating - providing bespoke low-fat meals delivered to the door - and personal training and even massage sessions in your home or office.

Christian tells me: "The Cocoa Rooms was having a detrimental impact on my lifestyle. I was working long hours, eating late at night and not getting much sleep.

"It was a fantastic experience, but I just knew I needed a change - to do something more positive with my life."

Celebs

While in the US last year, he came up with the idea to start the firm - as the concept is a huge hit in the US with celebs like Jessica Simpson and sports stars.

Christian, 26, tells me: "After the line of work I'd been in before I wanted to do something completely different, something I was passionate about.

"I retrained as a personal trainer and in lifestyle coaching and set up Soulmate. There's nothing like this being done in England. It covers all areas of physical and mental well-being.

"Times are changing, people are more conscious of what they're eating, and what's good for you and bad for you."

It seems Christian has inadvertently gone into the family business - his dad Tony, now retired, was the boss of Rochdale food manufacturing firm BCH.

Christian says: "Because my dad ran a successful food company, I've always been passionate about that."

The service comes at a cost though - the bespoke meals work out at £25 a day, and fitness sessions start at £45 an hour.

Although Christian insists it is still affordable.

"For people with busy lifestyles, this is so convenient - it's guilt-free eating because we've worked out all the nutrition for you.

"It's not a ridiculous amount of money, it is affordable. And I'm not in this just for the money."