Arc Inspirations eyes expansion after ‘record’ festive trading

Arc Inspirations has reported a record festive trading period, with sales up 10.8% over the five weeks.

The group behind the Manahatta, Box and Banyan bars recorded its highest ever sales week in December, with total sales of £2m, and average weekly sales peaking at a record £106,000 per site.

The strong sales growth was driven by the launch of three new sites across October and November. Manahatta cocktail bars opened in Edinburgh and Nottingham while a Box sports bar launched in Sheffield.

Arc Inspirations, which is backed by BGF, said all three venues recorded average sales of £117,000 per week in the peak Christmas trading week in December.

It comes ahead of further expansion for the group, which operates 19 sites across cities including Newcastle, Manchester, York, Leeds, Birmingham, Sheffield and Nottingham.

A debut Liverpool site will open later this year while a Cardiff venue and second site in Edinburgh are expected to launch in the next 12-18 months.

Martin Wolstencroft, co-founder and chief executive of Arc Inspirations, said the results came amid significant trading challenges including poor weather and transport cancellations.

“To see our business open three large-scale bars in the run up to the critical December trading period, and then to deliver this level of sales is an extraordinary achievement,” he said.