Loungers, the Bristol-based café/bar operator led by Alex Reilley and Jake Bishop, opens their 42nd site in Glossop, Derbyshire on 22 January, as the group sets out to meet its target of opening 15 sites in 2014.
The 4,500 sq ft Glossop site, called Pico Lounge, is located within the Howard Town Mill scheme and is the groups’ 36th Lounge site. Loungers have invested £400k into the 4,500 sq ft which will have 160 covers internally and a further 60 covers externally to the rear of the unit looking onto Glossop Brook.
Speaking of the opening, Loungers MD Alex Reilley commented:
“Glossop is a great town at the gateway to the Peak District and within 30 minutes of Manchester which therefore means it has a strong commuter population. The Howard Town Mill scheme has enjoyed a lot of success in attracting tenants and the M&S Simply Food, which anchors the scheme, enjoys a very brisk trade.
“Our ability to operate in towns like Glossop is further evidence of the scalability of the Lounge brand”.
Next up
It is understood that next up for Loungers are 2 openings, both in March, and both in Brighton.
Builders are currently working on converting a 5,500 sq ft former-Blockbuster site on London Road in the Preston Park area of the city, which is due to open as Alcampo Lounge in early March.
A deal is understood to be close to completion on existing restaurant premises on Western Road in the city, which would open in late March.
The group also confirmed that a deal has been completed on the lease of a former banking hall on Corn Street in the heart of Bristol’s old city which will open as a Cosy Club site in late spring. The 7,500 sq ft Grade II listed site, which has operated as licensed premises for a number of years, will be subject to a £600k investment and will open as the groups 7th Cosy Club site.
Loungers also have sites lined up in Chippenham, Witney, Birmingham, Torquay, Kettering, Letchworth Garden City and Lichfield.