Inventive Leisure to extend Revolution bar refurbishment plan

29-Nov-2013 - Last updated on 29-Nov-2013 at 17:34 GMT

Revolution: sales at the revamped sites are up by around 20 per cent

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A further 11 Revolution bars are to be given a revamp after Inventive Leisure announced it is to extend its investment programme across the 66-strong branded chain.

The company said it would add an extra £3m to the planned £7m investment across 26 bars announced in July. Work is due to be completed by next May.

First trialled at eight key sites, the ‘Evolution’ programme is designed to reflect the brand’s increasingly style-conscious consumer. Changes include a full-floor service, ‘attention-grabbing’ displays and a shift away from vodka-based drinks to a more rounded cocktail offer.

Inventive Leisure chief executive Mark McQuater said sales at the revamped sites – which include Leeds, Manchester Deansgate, Edinburgh and Cambridge – are up in the region of 20 per cent.

He explained: “We’ve been investing the thick-end of £1m every month since July as part of the Evolution of the Revolution brand, and at its completion in May 2014 we will have transformed over half of our estate.

“No other bar operator is spending at this rate on their core estate.”

Management changes

To support the investment, Inventive has announced three changes to its management team:

Godfrey Russell, currently development manager on the property team, will be promoted to director of property. Russell has been responsible for making sure the Evolution programme continues on time and on budget.
Kate Eastwood, who has been leading the catering team since June, will take on the newly-created position of director of business development with responsibility for catering, customer insight and pre-booked revenue. New executive chef Mark Rush will report into Eastwood.
Former drinks and retail procurement consultant Myles Doran has been promoted to the new position of director of drinks trading. Doran will be responsible for driving a new and greatly improved drinks proposition across the brands and the continued sourcing of new and innovative drinks products.

McQuater said: “We have a lot of great talent from within Inventive Leisure and it’s vital to the continued evolution and success of the business that we have a professionally structured management team to drive this continued growth.

“I would like to congratulate Godfrey, Kate and Myles on their well-deserved promotions and wish them every success in their new positions.”