‘Challenging’ conditions for nightclub group

LEISURE and entertainments company Luminar Group Holdings says that trading has remained “challenging” ahead of its general meeting today.

In an interim management statement for the 19-week period from February 26, 2010, the company said trading had been in line with its board’s expectations.

Luminar runs a host of venues across the country including Lava & Ignite in Preston and Burnley, Sol & Viva in Bury, and Squires in Preston.

“Same outlet sales across 76 clubs for the 19 weeks to July 8, 2010, were down 19.9%,” said the group. “Within this, admissions revenue was down 26% on footfall 19.6% lower. Drinks spend per head has been relatively stable and is 2.2% up for the period.

“As expected and in line with our experience of previous tournaments, the World Cup has adversely affected trading, with sales down approximately an additional 6% on the run rate. Gross margins for the period have been maintained broadly in line with last year at 81.8 %.”