Loungers to reopen full estate by August as it looks to return to expansion "as quickly as possible"
The group has so far reopened 75 Loungers and 19 Cosy Clubs since 4 July, but says that as a result of the confidence it has gained in the past few weeks if trading, it plans to open up its entire estate, which comprises 138 Lounges and 29 Cosy Clubs, from 5 August.
The company will also be opening a Cosy Club, its 30th, in Brindley Place Birmingham on 10 August. The restaurant, which has already been completed, was due to open on the Monday in March that Boris Johnson announced the lockdown of hospitality businesses.
A new Lounge is also expected to open sometime in September.
Director Alex Reilley says the company is "legally committed" to ope eight new sites and that beyond that it wanted to return to the expansion trail as quickly as possible. "By the first quarter of next year we hope to be back up levels of expansion pre Covid," says Reilley.
"Our view has always been you've got to be in it to win it. We want to get back up and trading."
The company has however decided to permanently close two sites – the Banco Lounge in Bristol and the Allegro Lounge in Northfield, the latter not meeting expectations because of being in the wrong location for the brand.
“It remains our view that Loungers is well placed coming out of lockdown and we are optimistic with regards to future trading and the continued planned growth of both our Lounge and Cosy Club brands,” says Nick Collins, Loungers CEO.
