Bar operator calls time on Derby venue

Revolution Bars is set to close its Derby city centre venue, after deeming it unprofitable.

The moves comes despite the group posting its best festive results since 2019, with sales rising by 9%.

The bar operator is also closing Revolution Bars in Beaconsfield, Reading, St Peters Liverpool and Wilmslow, Revolución de Cubas in Sheffield and Southampton and the Playhouse in Newcastle-Under-Lyme.

Negotiations for five of the eight bars had already begun for them to be transferred to other operators or their leases rescinded.

Revolution Bars says it is currently working through redeployment plans to enable the staff affected to be offered alternative employment elsewhere in the firm.

Rob Pitcher, CEO of Revolution Bars Group, said: “We have had the best festive trading period for four years with all of our brands recording positive like for like sales and Revolución de Cuba being the standout performer.

“However, our younger customers are still feeling the disproportionate effect of the cost-of-living crisis and the national living wage will increase materially in April 2024. Therefore, we have taken the difficult yet ultimately beneficial step for the Group to close several bars which are unprofitable.

“Our teams do a terrific job in making guests welcome and giving them a great experience and again we have demonstrated that when our customer base can afford to do so, they are choosing to celebrate with us, and we have delivered record levels of guest satisfaction. This should bode well for the future.”