Novus appoints Gala Coral founder John Kelly as chairman

He created Gala Coral following a £280m buy-in of the Gala Bingo business from Bass in 1997, and held the positions of chief executive and later chairman until 2008.

Kelly is also a founding partner of Dunelmia Partners LLP, which advises corporate clients on business performance, and is currently chairman of train ticket retailer Trainline.com, as well as senior non-executive director of Ladbrokes and chairman of the advisory board of private equity fund Kings Park Capital.

Kelly succeeds John Barnes, who has held the role since 2008, during which time the company’s turnover has risen from £81m to a forecast £136m this year.

“John has been an excellent mentor both to me and to the business,” said Steve Richards, chief executive of Novus. “He leaves the business in great shape and at a time when trading across our portfolio of premium bars – both in London and the regions - is achieving record growth and profits.

“I am delighted to welcome John Kelly to the board. He joins the business with the support both of our outgoing chairman and the executive team. He is well respected, well connected and as such, eminently qualified to assist us in taking the business to the next of phase of its development.”

Kelly said: “I am delighted to be joining Novus. It is a well run business with a great opportunity, as shown by its record of growing through a tough macro economic environment. I look forward to helping the team through further organic and acquisitive expansion and to being part of Novus’ continuing success.”

Balls Brothers sales rise 30%​

Meanwhile, Novus has revealed that like-for-like sales in the Balls Brothers sites it bought in March are up in excess of 30%, with the company citing its “state of the art” booking system.

Novus has spent c.£2m “contemporising” the 17 sites. Changes include reformating the venues to take advance bookings and and expanding the drinks and food offer.

Novus said revenue from advance bookings across the 53-strong group now represents 50% of revenue outside the Christmas period, when it rises to 75%.

It has also invested a further £1m upgrading its website www.latenightlondon.co.uk in preparation for the London Olympics - the site goes live in October.