Loungers on track with roll-out plan

Café, bar and restaurant operator Loungers said on Monday that its accelerated site roll-out plan remains firmly on track, with four further sites opened since 13 September.

The three new Lounge sites are Alfredo Lounge (part of the former Eve & Ranshaw department store) in Louth, Lincolnshire, Bordo Lounge (formerly a Top Shop) in Carlisle, and Muro Lounge (formerly an Argos) in Hexham.

Loungers said all three locations evidence its "track record of and ability to breathe new life into the UK's high streets, bringing footfall and jobs and, in particular, rejuvenating former retail sites".

The company - which owns the Lounge, Cosy Club and Brightside brands - also opened a Cosy Club in Oxford.

Chief executive Nick Collins said: "Our accelerated site roll-out plan remains firmly on track, and we're delighted with the four new sites that we've opened in the last few weeks. It's particularly pleasing to be increasing our presence in the North through the openings in Carlisle and Hexham, and we see significant potential for more sites in both the North West and the North East.

"It's also great to be finally opening a Cosy Club in Oxford. It's a city that's been on our list for quite some time and we've been really pleased with trade in its first few weeks. Our ambitions for Oxford don't end there and, in time, we see scope for bringing at least four new Lounge sites to the suburbs of the city."