Nightcap launches Bar Academy to aid staff retention

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Company growth: Nightcap is looking to expand its portfolio further

Multiple operator Nightcap has announced the launch of its Bar Academy – a dedicated training hub – alongside a new opening of the group’s Tonight Josephine brand in Bristol.

The owner of The Cocktail Club, the Adventure Bar Group and Barrio Familia is its fourth site in Bristol and is the largest Tonight Josephine venue to date, with plans for it to open later this year.

It has a capacity of 450 across the ground floor and basement as well as an additional outside terrace.

The venue is 7,824sq ft with licensing hours of 2am Sunday to Thursday and 3am on Friday and Saturday.

This is the third Tonight Josephine venue outside of London and seventh in total, taking the number of Adventure Bar Group sites to 13.

Nightcap now has 34 venues across its portfolio with a further 22 under offer or in legal negotiations and is eyeing further growth.

Strong identity

Want to join the club?​​​​​​

The MA Leaders Club is open to multi-site pub operators and meets three times a year around the country for a day of business-focused presentations from top experts and owner/operators. The day is followed by an evening study tour of new and exciting venues.

If you’re interested in joining, register here​​​​​​.

Nightcap CEO Sarah Willingham said: “Bristol is a city we are getting to know really well and is a place where we continue to perform consistently well.

“Tonight Josephine is the third brand from within the group to open in Bristol, across four different sites.

“It is the first location outside of London where we are proving how well our different bar concepts can work alongside each other without cannibalising revenues.

“This is a testament to the strong identity within each brand the teams work tirelessly to perfect and preserve.”

The Nightcap Bar Academy will be led by creative director and World’s Best Bartender 2008 winner JJ Goodman, who also previously led The Cocktail Club before it was acquired by Nightcap.

The dedicated facility will be a central point for training across the business in Camden Market, north London, aiming to provide in-depth training for all team members.

Success secret

It is hoped the Academy will continue to be a central hub to help boost staff retention and recruitment as the business grows.

Willingham added: “I am often asked about the secret of the success of Nightcap. So many people talk about the mix of great brands, the innovation of the offer, the timing out of our growth, the resilient Millennial audience or the exceptional underlying business model.

“But it is actually very simple – our secret is our people. In Nightcap we have a team of people who are exceptional at the things they are good at.

“In Nightcap we have a team of people who are exceptional at the things they are good at. They shine and are allowed to shine.

“That’s why we’ve started our incredible Nightcap Bar Academy, to capture the brilliance and share the magic with anyone who joins our team.

“Working with the best of the best, you’ll learn skills for life and have a lot of fun doing so. I’ve stood and watched the teams grow in confidence, build friendships and learn to produce some perfect cocktails. I couldn’t be prouder.”