Novus to launch new bar concept
Novus Leisure, the late-night bar operator, plans to launch a new bar concept across 30 sites over the next three years.
The new contemporary bar, which is aimed at 20 to 40 year old professionals, will have no set brand name and each venue will use an individual local name.
We want to play on our image as the local bar David Lodge, development director.
David Lodge, development director, said: "We want the bars to have a relaxed feel, with a living room approach and a healthier food offering."
The company, which is planning to roll out the brand across Central London, Greater London and affluent town centres and suburban locations across the UK, is looking for sites of approximately 6,000sq ft, over one or two floors, with a minimum capacity for 300 people and a flexible license.
Lodge said: "The challenge is to open some bars for Christmas, although the main expansion period will be during the beginning of next year. The first sites we are currently doing feasibility studies for are around London, the City of London, Bristol and Milton Keynes.
"We are of course looking for properties with outside areas where possible with the smoking ban approaching.
"We also want to grow outside of London, in the suburbs and in high street locations with a good footfall. We want to play on our image as the local bar."
Novus is also planning to launch a new Baby Tiger Tiger concept next year, which will be a smaller model of the flagship brand.
The new site will be located in a 14,000sq ft venue and will only have one or two bars as opposed to the standard six or seven.
The new smaller site, which is likely to be located regionally, will continue to include a restaurant and club.
The company, which was formerly known as Urbium, currently operates 18 sites in the West End, eight sites in the City of London and a further nine sites, mainly under the Tiger Tiger brand, in cities across the UK.
