Still opportunity in late night - Breakthrough Bars

Pete Terry, founder of Breakthrough Bars, is making a return to the late-night sector having previously run Disco Bar Group which he exited during the pandemic.

He now sees the chance for higher quality operations with broader choice, focused on secondary towns, with operations embracing both daytime and late night trade.

The company has recently expanded its business to five sites, with the purchase of two former Bloom cocktail bar operations in Hanley and Newcastle Under Lyme, and the company is actively seeking more.

The company began in August 2023 with the acquisition of a Bloom site in Stone, Staffordshire, which they transformed into a new brunch and day-to-night focused concept, Blame Frida, and was quickly followed by former nightclub venues in Ashby de la Zouch and Mansfield. 

However, the company is also looking to the late night sector and elevating experiences with a new concept called Playground, which will blend elements of the traditional with the new, bringing “instagrammable and carnival elements” to the mix, as well as gaming as well, Terry said. The first Playground is set to open in Mansfield.

He said they were now looking for other sites, primarily in secondary towns, for both late night and brunch opportunities. “If anyone’s got anything they want to sell, it’s time to get in touch!”

Despite the challenging market conditions, he remains confident of success: “Costs are going up for everybody, so guess what, the prices at the bar will be going up as well. It’s just the way of the world. 

“People will pay over £5 a pint, but they want a quality product, a quality experience and quality drink - if you can deliver that, you can stay on top.”