Loungers
Coverage explores the performance, expansion strategy, and operational model of one of the UK’s fastest-growing casual dining operators, including developments across its Lounge and Cosy Club brands. Reporting includes site rollouts, trading updates, menu development, regional growth strategy, and leadership insights, offering valuable perspective for professionals monitoring scalable, community-focused hospitality formats.
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Aug- 2025 -13 AugustRestaurants
Loungers opens 300th site in Hampshire
Loungers has opened its 300th site with the launch of Antico Lounge in Alton, East Hampshire. Founded in Bristol in 2002 by Alex Reilley, Jake Bishop and Dave Reid, the café/bar group operates all day café/bar/restaurants under the Lounge, Cosy Club and Brightside brands. It has opened 21 new Lounges…
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Jul- 2025 -4 JulyFeatures
Loungefest: the day hospitality pauses to party
Ragley Hall was responsible for hosting “the biggest bash in hospitality” – Loungefest 2025 – earlier this month. By mid-morning, coaches carrying Lounge’s whole staff had begun arriving from Durham, Southampton, West Wales, and nearly every town in between. For all of Loungers’ people to participate, nearly 300 venues –…
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May- 2025 -2 MayNews-In-Brief
Today’s news in brief – 02/05/25
McDonald’s has seen its international sales dip 1% in Q1, with US sales falling by 3.6% over the period. That is the steepest decline in like-for-like sales in the US since the three months to the end of June 2020 during the pandemic, when sales fell by 8.7% in the…
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2 MayPubs and Bars
Fortress and Lion Capital secure £30m loan to support Loungers deal
Lion Capital and Fortress Investment Group have secured a £30m club loan from OakNorth to support the acquisition of Loungers, the UK’s all-day café-bar operators. Under Fortress and Lion’s ownership, Loungers plans to continue its proven site rollout strategy, opening over 30 new sites a year to capture further market…
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Apr- 2025 -11 AprilNews-In-Brief
Today’s news in brief – 11/04/25
NWTC has seen a 9% improvement in like-for-like sales across the last four quarters, following the appointment of a new leadership team and a renewed focus on The Botanist brand. Antony Doyle, the former operations director of Loungers, joined New World Trading Company in June 2024 as its group operations…
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11 AprilPubs and Bars
NWTC’s new strategy brings 9% like-for-like sales uplift
Bar and restaurant operator, New World Trading Company (NWTC), has seen a 9% improvement in like-for-like sales across the last four quarters, following the appointment of a new leadership team and a renewed focus on The Botanist brand. Amber Wood, managing director of NWTC, said: “We’ve spent the last year…
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9 AprilRestaurants
Yard Sale Pizza secures growth investment from Piper
Yard Sale Pizza has secured an investment from private equity firm Piper to fund growth across the capital and into new UK cities. Piper will also support investment in technology to enhance Yard Sale’s customer experience and its innovation in collaborations and partnerships. Founded in 2013 by Johnnie Tate and…
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Mar- 2025 -17 MarchFeatures
Private equity in hospitality: a lifeline or a looming takeover?
French restaurant group Bistrot Pierre was the latest British chain to be acquired out of administration by a private equity firm, ensuring that 10 sites will continue to trade with exactly 394 jobs saved. Private equity investment in hospitality has become a growing force that offers a financial lifeline to…
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Feb- 2025 -28 FebruaryNews-In-Brief
Today’s news in brief – 28/02/25
Papa John’s full-year revenues fell by 4% to $2.06bn (£1.64bn), as global restaurant sales fell by 3% to $4.85bn (£3.85bn). It comes as North American sales were down 4% from 2023, while sales at the group’s international restaurants fell by 1% during the same period. Meanwhile, total revenues for the…
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28 FebruaryRestaurants
Heavenly Desserts and Burger and Sauce set to open in Merry Hill
Heavenly Desserts and Burger and Sauce are set to open two new locations in Merry Hill shopping centre. Opening in April, Heavenly Desserts has signed for a 68-cover, 2,189 sq ft unit. Located next to Wingstop and opposite the recently opened Loungers, the brand will offer a dedicated dessert menu…
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