Further expansion for Loungers

Loungers, the Bristol based all-day cafe/bar operator, has opened its 55th and 56th sites in Stroud and Peterborough respectively.

Curio Lounge opened in Stroud last week following the £500,000 conversion of a 5,300 sq ft site of a retail unit on the ground floor and a billiards hall on the first floor.

Meawnhile, this week has seen the launch of Argo Lounge in Peterborough, where a former cafe and a neighbouring NatWest mortgage centre has been transformed at a cost of £550,000. The 4,700 sq ft site has seating for 200 covers split over ground floor and basement.

With the Peterborough opening, the group has reached its target of opening 15 sites in 2014 and is now looking ahead to opening 20 units in 2015.

Alex Reilley (pictured), managing director of Loungers, described the new openings in Stroud and Peterborough as "cracking sites" which are expected to produce strong sales.

"We've had a really great run of openings this year and have seen the 2014 sites perform nicely above the average for the group. We're on site in three of the 2015 openings so will hit the ground running next year as we look to exceed our initial target of opening 70 sites by 2017 with 15 months to spare".

Openings in the first half of next year will include Lounge openings in Sutton Coldfield, Trowbridge, Admirals Quay in Southampton, Bishops Stortford, Frome, Cirencester, Falmouth, and Epsom; with Cosy Club sites due to open in Birmingham and Manchester.