Inventive Leisure back on the expansion trail

Inventive Leisure, operator of the Revolution vodka bar chain, is looking at expansion after restoring sales growth in the business.

Inventive says it sees scope for up to 60 more Revoution bars. Currently 38 of its 43 outlets trade under the vodka brand, the most recent having opened earlier this month in Parsonage Gardens, Manchester.

Openings of new larger format Revolutions in Leeds and Cardiff are now scheduled for summer, having both "suffered delays beyond our control", said the company.

September will see the opening of the biggest Revolution to date, on a two-storey site in Plymouth. Taking the brand to more sites along the south coast is part of the strategy for expansion.

Roy Ellis, chief executive said: "We believe that our trading platform is stable and strong, enabling us to resume with confidence our expansion programme."

Inventive put expansion on hold temporarily last year after the general downturn in town centre sales put the focus on boosting performance at existing outlets.

The company is actively seeking new sites, "which are likely to be existing licensed premises in our target towns and cities", with negotiations on five locations underway.

In the six month to December 25, Inventive saw turnover increase by 11 per cent to £22.7m, with like-for-like sales up 1.7 per cent. Pre-tax profits increased 21 per cent to £1.8m.

In the twelve weeks since Christmas, like-for-likes are up 2.1 per cent. Mr Ellis, said: "These results confirm that Revolution remains one of the High Street's most popular licensed retail offerings.

"The board believes that opportunities exist for a further 40 to 60 Revolution bars in the UK and is confident about the group's prospects."