Loungers celebrates 250th site opening
Loungers is celebrating reaching 250 sites across its Lounge, Cosy Club, and Brightside brands, with the opening of Pionero Lounge at Riverside in Rochdale.
The 3,080 sq ft venue comprises two combined units, following an extensive refurbishment.
Loungers’ arrival at Riverside follows the opening of Starbucks at the scheme in 2023, further adding to the scheme’s food and beverage offering. The centre saw footfall reach over 1.6 million in 2023, a 8.5% increase year-on-year.
This comes after the group stated its belief that there is scope for at least 600 Lounge sites across the UK, with Loungers on track to open 34 new sites in the current financial year.
Since announcing its interim results in November, the group has opened new Lounges in Cramlington, Penrith, Paignton, Caerphilly, and Ashby-de-la-Zouch. Further openings are scheduled in the coming months including in Bromsgrove, Chepstow, Westwood Cross, Macclesfield, Bracknell, Ilkley, Sidcup and Yeovil. The sites range from new developments to former banks, retail outlets, and restaurants.
Alex Reilley, chairman and co-founder of Loungers, said: “The opening of our 250th site is a hugely satisfying landmark for a business that started in 2002 in Bristol with a single cafe-bar called The Lounge. A lot has changed since then but our commitment to providing our customers with excellent food and drink all day, while doing everything that we can to make a positive impact on the local community, has never wavered.
“In many ways, it feels like we are only just getting started and there is so much more for us to go after. We’re on track to open 34 sites in the current financial year, which will be a record for us and will involve the creation of over 1,000 new jobs. In the longer term, we believe there is scope for over 600 Lounges alone across the UK.
“None of this would be possible without the extraordinary talent, hard work and dedication of our people, and I’d like to thank each and every one of them for their contribution to building the business that Loungers is today.”
Lyons Thompson Letts is Riverside’s retained leasing agent.
