Luminar denies making informal bid for Regent Inns

Luminar, the nightclub operator, has denied press speculation it has tabled an informal offer for troubled Regent Inns, which runs the Walkabout chain of bars.

Responding to the reports Luminar said in a stock exchange statement today that it had "not made an informal offer for Regent and is not in any discussions with Regent".

However it went on to say that it was still "actively pursuing a number of options for the disposal of its 49 per cent stake in 3D Entertainment", the group created following last year's sale and leaseback deal involving non-core Luminar sites.

"It is disappointing to note that Regent Inns has always declined to enter any discussions with representatives of 3DE to evaluate the financial and commercial logic of a combination of 3DE and Regent Inns to the benefit of shareholders in 3DE and Regent Inns," Luminar's statement went on.

"There is no certainty that any discussions between 3DE and Regent Inns would lead to an offer being made for Regent Inns. Further announcements will be made if appropriate," it added.

A reversal by 3DE into Regent would enable it to obtain a stock exchange listing with ease, a suggestion that has been doing the rounds in the City for some time.

Last week Luminar announced cumulative like-for-like turnover for the first 19 weeks of the current financial year down 2.4 per cent.

Regent Inns is meanwhile understood to have brought in a team of accountants to evaluate its own business options.