Revolution Bars to expand in Aberdeen and Glasgow

Bars operator Revolution today announced plans to ramp up its presence north of the Border as it unveiled rising annual sales.

Revolution is expanding its presence in Aberdeen and Glasgow. Picture: Dan Phillips/TSPL

The group already has 62 venues across the UK, operating under the Revolution and Revolución de Cuba brands, including sites in Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Chief executive Mark McQuater said it has now exchanged contracts, with full licensing and planning consents, on further sites in Aberdeen, Glasgow and Harrogate in North Yorkshire.

More details on the expansion plans will be announced alongside Revolution’s full-year results on 4 October.

The move came as the group said total sales during the year to 30 June rose 7.7 per cent to £119.5 million, boosted by the opening of four Revolución de Cuba bars in Leeds, Liverpool, Milton Keynes and Nottingham, along with a Revolution in Stafford.

It now has 53 sites trading as Revolution and nine under the Revolución de Cuba banner. Excluding the new outlets, like-for-like takings were up 2.3 per cent on the previous year.

McQuater said: “We are pleased with performance this year and particularly pleased with the performance of our new openings, all of which are trading ahead of our pre-investment expectations.”

Last month, Revolution said it had been in talks to buy four unidentified bars in Edinburgh for about £16m, but the talks broke down due to the “market uncertainty” following the result of the EU referendum.