Loungers launches 250th site

A leading national café, bar and restaurant operator has launched its 250th venue as it accelerates its expansion programme across the UK. 

The latest opening for Loungers, owner of the Lounge, Cosy Club and Brightside brands, is the Pionero Lounge in Rochdale. 

Since publishing its interim results in November, the group has launched new Lounges in Cramlington (Coltello Lounge), Penrith (Arturo Lounge), Paignton (Costero Lounge), Caerphilly (Consurio Lounge) and Ashby de la Zouch (Centivo Lounge). 

Further openings in the pipeline include Lounges in Bromsgrove, Chepstow, Westwood Cross, Macclesfield, Bracknell, Ilkley, Sidcu and Yeovil, with sites ranging from brand new developments to former banks, retail outlets and restaurants on the high street.

Loungers believes there is scope for at least 600 Lounges across the UK, with the group on track to open 34 sites in the current financial year alone. This is over and above the group's Cosy Club and Brightside brands, which currently have 36 and three sites, respectively. 

With each new venue, Loungers invests almost £1m into the local high street and creates an average of 30 jobs. Last year, the group created 1,000 new jobs in total. The company expects to recruit the same number again in 2024. 

'A hugely satisfying landmark'

Alex Reilley, chairman and co-founder of Loungers, comments: "The opening of the 250th site is a hugely satisfying landmark for a business that started in 2002 in Bristol with a single café-bar called The Lounge. A lot has changed since then but our commitment to providing our customers with excellent all-day food and drink, while doing everything that we can to make a positive impact on the local community, has never wavered.

"In many ways, it feels like we are only just getting started and there is so much more for us to go after. We're on track to open 34 sites in the current financial year, which will be a record for us and will involve the creation of over 1,000 new jobs. In the longer term, we believe there is scope for over 600 Lounges alone across the UK. 

"None of this would be possible without the extraordinary talent, hard work and dedication for our people, and I'd like to thank each and every one of them for their contribution to building the business that Loungers is today."

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