When Quelch describes the past 12 months for NEOS as having been ‘transformational’, it’s not hyperbole.
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For the past couple of years, the group that previously traded as Rekom UK has steadily repositioned from being predominantly a night club operator to a bar-led business with an emphasis primarily on growing its Bonnie Rouges pub concept and après-ski themed bar format Barbara’s Bier Haus.
A nightclub brand, Circuit, does also feature in the portfolio, though isn’t positioned as a growth driver.
Rebranding
Rebrands completed during 2025 included the transformation of the former PRYZM site in Kingston into NEOS’s first dual-concept venue, combining Bonnie Rogues and Circuit, alongside the rebrand of the former PRYZM site in Bristol as Barbara’s Bier Haus and Circuit.
Additionally, the group also opened two new Barbara’s Bier Haus venues in Bournemouth and Brighton.
The plan, initially, for 2026, was for much of the same, but then, in January this year the group doubled the size of its estate in one swoop, acquiring 20 Revolution and Revolución de Cuba sites out of administration from The Revel Collective. “It was a key one for us,” says Quelch.
- This story originally appeared in The Morning Advertiser’s sister publication MCA. Read the full interview here.
“Our intention for 2026 originally was to continue the rebranding the sites in the NEOS estate. When the Revel sites came along, we took a look and saw potential in the acquisition as a route to our pipeline, rather than going down the road of single site acquisitions, which is more time consuming and can be more difficult.”
Transformational year
Since the acquisition, the group has rebranded Revolution bars in Bristol and Southampton as Bonnie Rogues and Barbara’s Bier Haus, respectively, with Quelch noting that both are driving significant returns on capital.
Bristol is now trading at a 300% revenue increase since its rebranding in July, while Southampton is trading at a 500% increase since reopening in August.
“We’re really pleased with the conversations and seeing increase in revenue, profit and growth.
“We’re moving more into the bar market as we go. That strategy we set out to achieve, we’ve really hit that.
“It’s been a transformational year. We’re definitely a business now that operates bars with a few nightclubs.”
- This story originally appeared in The Morning Advertiser’s sister publication MCA. Read the full interview here.
