Club owner Luminar feeling the chill

The owner of nightclub chains Liquid and Oceana yesterday posted a severe decline in sales over the Christmas season as clubbers avoided the freezing weather and stayed at home.

Luminar reported a 19.4 per cent slide in like-for-like sales in the 12 weeks to 6 January but said same-outlet sales over the Christmas and New Year weeks were still ahead of anticipated levels.

Even after excluding the weather-affected weeks, Luminar sales declined 13.6 per cent on a like-for-like basis.

But shares in the company lifted 8.6 per cent as the performance was an improvement on declines witnessed earlier in the year.

The fall in sales comes despite Luminar introducing high-end brands, cocktails, live entertainment and clubnights promoted by record label Hed Kandi, which it said were well received.