Bar chain owner says bookings are ALREADY streaming in for Christmas

The Manchester-headquartered group behind the Revolution and Revolución de Cuba brands is eyeing a successful Christmas as bookings stream in for the festive season.

Revolution Bars Group has issued an update for its latest financial year in which it said its "relentless focus on cost management" has helped it battle the rise in inflation and energy cost hikes.

The group added its "industry leading sustainability agenda" has also allowed it to reduce its carbon footprint while its "focus on training and retention" has reduced the "burden of colleague turnover ensuring we keep our best people in the business and allowing us to spend less on recruitment".

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The listed group, which operates 69 bars across the country, has also confirmed its results for the 12 months to July 2, 2022, will be in line with expectations.

It added it recorded a like-for-like increase in sales of 1.3% in its 56 English bars during the year. The group hailed it as a "strong result given the disruption caused by the Omicron variant and subsequent plan B restrictions which were in place over the winter and the peak Christmas trading period".

Sales for the full group however, which include sites in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland, rose just 0.3%.

The group added it plans to refurbish a further 18 of its locations during the coming year as well as open six new sites.

Chief executive Rob Pitcher said: "Revolution Bars Group is in great shape. The business is well positioned with a net cash position to fund our new site and refurbishment programme.

"It has been exciting to see the positive results of our refurbishment and expansion strategy this year and to see our young