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Loungers plc
Company typeFast casual restaurant
LGRS
IndustryCafes
Restaurants
Bars
Founded2002
Founder
  • Alex Reilley
  • David Reid
  • Jake Bishop
Number of locations
235 (The Lounges)
36 (Cosy Club)
3 (Brightside)
Area served
United Kingdom
Websiteloungers.co.uk

Loungers plc (trading as Loungers) is a British cafe-bar and restaurant chain founded in 2002 by Alex Reilley, David Reid, and Jake Bishop, with over 200 locations in the United Kingdom. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange. The chain operates three brands: Lounge, Cosy Club and Brightside.

History

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Lounge

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Tarro Lounge in Hinckley, Leicestershire.

Loungers was founded by Alex Reilley, David Reid, and Jake Bishop, who collectively put together £10,000 to open their first Lounge (which was aptly-named Lounge) inside of a former opticians unit on North Street in Bedminster, Bristol in August 2002. Their original business model was not meant to include food as it was only meant to operate as a bar, though it was later introduced.[1] Five years later in 2007, after predominantly opening sites in England, they expanded into Wales, by opening Juno Lounge in Roath, Cardiff.[2] On 10 May 2017, they opened their 100th site, Capo Lounge, in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire.[3] On 13 September 2023, they opened their 200th site, Verdetto Lounge in Buckingham, Buckinghamshire.[4]

Cosy Club

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In August 2010, Loungers announced plans to launch a new brand named Cosy Club,[5] which operates in historic and listed buildings.[6] The first branch to open was on 3 September 2010 in Taunton, Somerset.[5] In January 2020, the largest Cosy Club restaurant to date opened, inside of a Grade II listed three-floor former casino building on Victoria Street in Nottingham, East Midlands, which was purchased for £1 million after sitting empty for 17 years.[7][8]

Brightside

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In November 2022, it was announced that Loungers would launch a new roadside dining brand named Brightside, which drew inspiration from the defunct Little Chef chain. Gary Lloyd of The Morning Advertiser suggested the brand is also reminiscent of Happy Eater.[9] Loungers purchased three of the four restaurants used by American-diner chain Route Restaurants to convert into Brightside locations.[10] The inaugural Brightside location opened in one of these in February 2023, the former Happy Eater/Little Chef on the A38 in Kennford, near Exeter Racecourse.[11] As of November 2024, there are four Brightside locations across Cornwall, Devon and Rutland.[12]

COVID-19

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In April 2020, during the then-ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Alex Reilley stated that their directors' pay had been cut by 50 per cent while their branches closed in March as a way of saving money. The chain's lending banks, Santander and the Bank of Ireland, agreed to provide them with a revolving credit of £15 million over the course of 18 months to manage their capital throughout the pandemic.[13]

On 6 April 2021, as the pandemic conditions were easing up and businesses were re-opening, Reilley criticised the idea of government-introduced coronavirus passports having to be shown at bars and restaurants, saying the idea was "unreasonably targeting" the restaurant sector, and they should instead be shown at theatres, cinemas and sporting events, where tickets are already checked on entry.[14] On 12 April, Loungers were able to re-open their sites in phases, with 47 English sites opening for takeaway and outdoor dining only during the third national lockdown, while five sites in Wales were permitted to re-open with the same rules on 26 April.[15] All Lounges re-opened in May, and by October 2021, their revenue had almost doubled.[16]

Investment

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In April 2012, Piper Private Equity acquired a minority stake in Loungers, investing £16 million.[17] In December 2016, Piper exited their investment following a £137 million deal with Lion Capital LLP who acquired a majority stake. During this time, Alex Reilley subsequently became the Executive Chairman.[18]

References

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  1. ^ "The Big Interview: Alex Reilley, Loungers". Morning Advertiser. 5 July 2012. Archived from the original on 1 January 2024. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  2. ^ Clements, Laura (6 February 2021). "The man behind the 'lounge' chain of bars as he plans to open a new pub in Barry". Wales Online. Archived from the original on 6 February 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2024. The Bristol-based business made it's [sic] first foray beyond the south west in 2007 when it opened Juno Lounge in Cardiff.
  3. ^ Price, Katherine (10 May 2017). "Loungers hits 100 sites and reports 34% increase in turnover". The Caterer. Archived from the original on 21 October 2021. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  4. ^ Lowson, James (13 September 2023). "New 'home-from-home' cafe-bar opens in Buckingham creating around 30 jobs". Bucks Herald. Archived from the original on 14 September 2023. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Loungers to open first Cosy Club". Morning Advertiser. 25 August 2010. Archived from the original on 1 January 2024. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  6. ^ Rannard, Storm (23 July 2015). "Restaurant chain lodges plans for historic Derby building". Insider Media. Archived from the original on 2 January 2024. Retrieved 2 January 2024. Loungers has launched nine Cosy Clubs across the UK with each of its venues based in historic buildings.
  7. ^ Pinchess, Lynette. "Forgotten Nottingham treasure is brought back to life as £1m Cosy Club". Nottingham Post. Archived from the original on 27 January 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  8. ^ Robinson, Jon (30 January 2020). "Cosy Club opens largest UK restaurant". Insider Media. Archived from the original on 2 January 2024. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  9. ^ Lloyd, Gary (7 November 2022). "New Loungers concept to reinvigorate roadside dining". Morning Advertiser. Archived from the original on 7 November 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  10. ^ "Loungers plc acquired Three roadside diners from Route Restaurants Limited". MarketScreener. 6 November 2022. Archived from the original on 27 January 2024. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  11. ^ Partridge, Joanna (11 February 2023). "Back to the future? Devon diner hopes to revive spirit of Little Chef". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 11 February 2023. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  12. ^ Diwan, Kunal (15 November 2024). "New Openings Roundup 15th November". CGA. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  13. ^ Baker, Hannah (23 April 2020). "Loungers restaurant chain slashes directors' pay by 50 per cent and raises £8.3m". Bristol Post. Archived from the original on 25 April 2020. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  14. ^ Partridge, Joanna (6 April 2021). "Pubs and clubs attack UK Covid passport scheme". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 6 April 2021. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  15. ^ Graham, August (9 April 2021). "Loungers set for phased reopening as it signs new deal with lenders". Belfast Telegraph. PA. Archived from the original on 3 January 2024. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  16. ^ Restaurant (1 December 2021). "Loungers reports strong trading since May reopening". Restaurant Online. Archived from the original on 3 January 2024. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  17. ^ Ruddick, Peter (9 April 2012). "Loungers receives £16m investment from Piper". Restaurant Online. Archived from the original on 2 January 2024. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  18. ^ Devlin, Ed (20 December 2016). "Lion Capital swoops for Loungers in £137m deal". The Grocer. Archived from the original on 2 January 2024. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
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