Chorion full of festive cheer

Chorion is the latest operator to issue a bullish trading statement for the Christmas and New Year period.

The late-night bar and club specialist reported a rise in like-for-like sales of 4.4 per cent.

The advance was impressive in that last December's figures had risen 18 per cent on the previous year.

Chorion Bars managing director Robert Cohen (pictured)​ said: "This was a tremendous performance given the huge increase we witnessed last year. I am especially pleased with the new businesses we opened during 2001."

In the past 12 months, Chorion has taken control of London venues Red Cube and Sugar Reef. Because of key acquisitions throughout the year, overall sales for December leapt 62 per cent to £7.1m.

Sales generated from its 18 venues averaged £99,000 per outlet per week, compared to £92,000 per outlet per week achieved from the 12 businesses it operated at the same time last year.

It has also opened Tiger Tiger venues in Leeds and Portsmouth. More Tigers are planned across the country including sites in Bristol, Edinburgh and Dublin. The first of 2002 is to open next month in Croydon.

Mr Cohen said the fourth Christmas at the original Tiger Tiger in London's Haymarket was the "best Christmas ever", and estimated that 15,000 people went through the door in the busiest week.

A high percentage of Chorion's venues are in London. The positive trading statement will further ease fears that falling tourist numbers in the Capital would impact on its bars and nightclubs.

Chorion also holds the rights to Agatha Christie, Enid Blyton and other authors in its intellectual property division.

Because of this the business is not easily analysed and the group has said it will demerge the two divisions in the first half of this year.