Baa Bar looks for 10 more sites in roll-out plan

BAA Bar plans to double in size by opening 10 sites over the next four years.

The Liverpool-based group, which is celebrating its 21st birthday this year, has annual sales of £11m across its five Liverpool, four Manchester and one Nottingham venues.

Chairman Richard O’Sullivan and chief executive Elaine Clarke told TheBusinessDesk.com that having come through the worst of the downturn Baa Bar is now “in growth mode.”

It has signed up for a 7,500sq ft site on Cookridge Street in Leeds, near the O2 Academy, and has its sights set on Sheffield next and then Birmingham. Both Yorkshire sites should open by the end of the tear.

Mr O’Sullivan, who is also chairman of Barburrito and Boost Juice UK, said of Baa Bar: “Our expansion outside of our North West heartland will be careful and sensible, but we have been given the confidence to push forward by the success of our Nottingham bar, which has been a big success.

“We’re on the front foot and our aim is to open 10 new sites in the next four years. The biggest challenge is to find the right sites – we’ve been waiting for six years for the right site in Leeds for example.”

Baa Bar is aimed at students and young professionals – particuarly those in their 20s still living at home. It aims to provide an affordable, vibrant night out for its customers – between Monday and Friday they can buy a bottle of beer for £1.50.

Ms Clarke has been with the business since it was launched by Urban Splash founders Tom Bloxham and Jonathan Falkingham in a revamped industrial building on Fleet Street in Liverpool in 1991.

It listed on the Channel Islands stock exchange seven years ago when the Urban Splash shareholders exited in a £15m deal, and de-listed in 2010.

Mr O’Sullivan said Baa Bar has 72 separate shareholders but there are no plans to change the ownership structure. Debt has been cut from a peak of £12m to around £7m.

As well as opening new sites Baa Bar will invest to reinvigorate its existing sites.

Ms Clarke said Baa Bar supports minimum alcohol pricing as this will help tackle “pre-loading” – where people drink at home and then go out to pubs and bars.

“Anything that stops this has to be welcomed,” she said.