REVOLUTION Bars Group has declared its intention to continue expanding its presence in Scotland as it unveiled a 12.7 per cent hike in first half revenue to £66.7 million.
The leisure firm, led by Ayrshireman Mark McQuater, has been holding talks about sites in Inverness, Edinburgh and Glasgow as it looks to build its portfolio north of the Border.
The company, which has upgraded its expansion plans for the year to six from five, launched outlets under its Revolucion de Cuba brands in Aberdeen and Glasgow before Christmas. Those outlets joined its Revolution vodka-led outlets in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen. In total, the firm has 66 sites
– 53 trading as Revolution and 13 as Revolucion de Cuba – and aims to increase that to 68 this year.
Mr McQuater said: “We’re looking to dramatically grow our Scottish operation. We are finding customers are connecting strongly with what we have got. It is not a part of the UK where rent or rates have gone mad. Customers are quite excited about what it is we do, which is basically premium cocktails, [a] fabulous environment, fresh food, atmosphere and music.”
Mr McQuater said the chain has not seen any fall-out from the Brexit vote, with like for like sales “steady” since the EU referendum.
Like for like sales rose 1.7 per cent in the eight weeks to February 25, having grown two per cent in the first half.
However McQuater said it had renegotiated key supply deals following the collapse of the pound. Revolution replaced Stolichnaya vodka with the “super premium” Ketel One on a fixed two-year deal, “for less than Stoli”.
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