Luminar acquires Chicago Leisure
Sun Capital placed the Christian Rose-led group, which was formed last year after Atmosphere Pubs & Bars went into administration, on the market earlier this summer after receiving a number of expressions of interest. It operates its sites under the Chicago Rock Café and Chicago brands.
Luminar chief executive Peter Marks told the Publican's Morning Advertiser's sister title M&C Report: “It’s a nice sized acquisition for us - and our first multi-site deal. It will allow us to diversify our offer into the wider late night market, giving us a broader customer appeal.
"We’re no longer stabilising, we’re growing. Of course it was originally a Luminar business, so it will be the easiest business for us to take over. We know the management, the sites and the systems.
"This deal widens our customer base. We can also use the Chicago brand to look for new sites."
The deal takes Luminar, which was voted the 2014 Best Late Night Operator at the Publican Awards, to 61 sites. It has three openings planned for this year – a new site in Ashford, Kent; a refurbishment of Air & Breathe in Dartford, Kent and a revamp of Liquid in Windsor.
Intertain deal
Separately, Intertain, the operator of the Walkabout brand, has been acquired by Better Capital, led by John Moulton, in a deal thought to be valued at c£15m.
It is understood that a deal was completed on Friday for the John Leslie-led group, which comprises 26 Walkabout sites and a handful of unbranded bars.
