Incipio Group names Hippo Inns co-founder as its first chair

Incipio Group, which operates London bars such as Lost in Brixton and the 411, has appointed Hippo Inns co-founder Ian Edward as its first chairman.

Edward joined Incipio’s board as non-executive director in 2022, having advised and invested in leisure businesses for over 30 years.

He remains a founding investor and board member of Pizza Pilgrims and is also an investor in Thunderbird Fried Chicken and Double Dutch.

Edward has held directorships at Geronimo Inns, La Tasca and Brasserie Blanc and advised on transactions including the sale of New World Trading Company to private equity firm Graphite Capital and Greene King's divestment of Loch Fyne.

Ed Devenport, chief executive of Incipio Group, said: “Ian has a wealth of knowledge and specific experience in our sector that will be of great value to Incipio at a crucial time as we begin the next phase of our growth plans.”

Edward added: “From the moment I saw the transformation of the Prince in West Brompton from a quiet neglected pub into a busy, vibrant and spectacularly successful house of fun, I knew that Incipio was special.

"As one of the most innovative companies I have seen in our sector, we are well placed to take advantage of several extraordinary opportunities, and I look forward to working even more closely with such a great team.”

Incipio Group opened its first site in 2015 and has since grown to nine sites across London.

Despite closing Pergola Paddington due to the end of its lease in January, the group said it remains committed to bigger sites and hinted at plans for a new Pergola “by the end of the year”.