Talking about what the future looks like in the sector, the boss of Red Engine, which operates competitive socialising brands Flight Club and Electric Shuffle, explained: “I’m excited by it. I think it’s good. It’s been a decade for us since [Flight Club in] Shoreditch opened. That was the first one and like-for-likes have been up for 10 years in a row – so that’s good.
“There will always be a need to socialise and a need for quality hospitality. You’ve just got to be so bad ass! If [customers] are going to come out and spend their pennies with you, you’ve got to give them the best possible experience and you’ve got to be relentless in that quest.
“So yeah, I’m very excited [by the future] and there are lots of opportunities out there.”
He admits summer is not the best time for sites that rely on people wanting to have fun indoors but said the numbers are good.
Summer is a bit choppy
Moore said: “Business is good but it’s definitely got a little bit softer for sure.
“The summer is a bit choppy. We had a really good Q1 and the past three quarters were brilliant but it’s a bit all over the shop [currently]. It’s inconsistent shall we say? But, overall, we’re holding up nicely.
“In the short term, we are focused on ensuring that we’ve got the right product market fit still as behaviours change. I’m looking at our events and our brunch products so that’s in the short to medium term.
“Summer’s always a bit lighter for us and I suppose I’m trying to just trying to really work out motivation – so what makes people go out and why is quite difficult.”
No costs passed on
He also had words to say on how the Government has fared in terms of looking out for the hospitality sector.
“It’s been tough going. I don’t think anybody’s a fan of that,” Moore began. “We haven’t passed on the all the extra costs to the customers like minimum wage increases, NICs, etc.
“But there’s only so many initiatives you can do [to save money] and on top of that, it’s been really tough going anyway so no, the Government has not been helpful at all.
“We spent a lot of time looking at procurement and our cost strategy and stuff like that. We’ve managed to do the best we can with it. A Labour model is always going to be hard in hospitality and the Government hasn’t helped.”