End of an era as Inventive Leisure founders depart after 22 years

THE founders of Inventive Leisure, the North West company behind the Revolution vodka bar chain, have both left the business in the past month.

Former chief executive Roy Ellis resigned from the board at the beginning of October, while Neil Macleod, with whom he founded the Ashton-under-Lyne-based group left on Monday, Companies House filings reveal.

In March when new CEO Mark McQuater was appointed the company, which is also behind the Revolucion de Cuba rum bar concept, said Mr Ellis would be remaining on the board.

Mr Ellis and Mr Macleod launched the business in 1991 and led it to a stock market in 2000 and remained with the business as it grew into a £100m+ turnover business. It was taken private by venture capitalist Alchemy Partners in 2006.

Mr McQuater, the former boss of the Barracuda chain, has spoken of his plans to grow the business, both organically, and also through acquisition.

In the summer the company said it would be investing more than £6m on rolling-out a new look and design at 26 Revolution sites.