All Experiential leisure articles
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NewsLane7 acquires Par 59
Bowling and entertainment business Lane7 has snapped up the two-site mini golf, smart darts and turbo shuffleboard brand as it looks to grow its presence across the UK.
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NewsPuttshack warns of ‘material uncertainty’ over parent company covenant breaches
The competitive socialising group says its parent company is actively discussing refinancing options amid forecasts it will breach it covenants at various testing dates over the next year
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NewsFlight Club owner targets European expansion with new sites
Competitive socialising like darts and bowling is booming in the UK and Red Engine is now seeking opportunities across the Channel, The Times reports
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NewsLuke Johnson’s cinema chain closing in on Showcase’s UK venues
The Light, owned by the leisure sector investor who has backed Pizza Express and Gail’s, wants to buy the £55m movie-house business put up for sale by Paramount, The Sunday Times reports
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Analysis & InsightPutting F&B in the driving seat of experiences
As consumers seek out memorable and engaging experiences across cultural destinations, entertainment venues and even garden centres, it is essential that the F&B offering delivers on increasingly elevated expectations
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NewsInception Group announces first foray into competitive socialising
The London-based experiential bar operator will launch Mr Fogg’s Games Parlour this spring, offering pub games with a Victorian-inspired Mr Fogg’s twist
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NewsRocket Room: ‘Leicester Square will be the first of many’
The new small-format experiential concept, designed to fit into existing venues, hopes to open 15 sites within two years, founder Michael Pearson of Elangeni Hospitality tells MCA
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NewsInsomnia Cookies MD steps down
Ben Lacey has left to join Padel Project as CEO, which has plans to build 1,000 courts in the UK
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Analysis & InsightIs competitive socialising reaching saturation point in the UK?
The experiential leisure segment continues to expand at a rapid rate, but there are increasing signs a period of market correction and consolidation could be close
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NewsThe Breakfast Group announces joint venture with bar brand Laki Kane
Under the partnership, Laki Kane will launch a new central London location on the site of The Breakfast Group’s Burlock Bar on Oxford Street
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NewsRed Engine exploring opportunities for European expansion
Co-founder and chief executive Steve Moore tells MCA there’s plenty of opportunity for the Flight Club and Electric Shuffle owner on the Continent as it looks to grow its global estate
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NewsOpenings of the week
MCA rounds up the week’s biggest openings stories, featuring Wetherspoon’s plans for Shaftesbury Avenue, rapper Professor Green’s fast food venture, Megan’s launch in Windsor, and more
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InterviewsBoxpark: ‘You’re more likely to see us do deals internationally than the UK’
CEO Matt Snell says with a stagnant home economy, he is focussing on the turnaround of Boxpark’s core business, as well as lucrative event pop-ups and international opportunities, after walking away from sites in Bristol and Birmingham
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NewsRed Engine sales up 10% in Q4 2025
The experiential leisure operator behind Flight Club and Electric Shuffle is hoping to open in locations like Brighton, Cambridge and Bath in the future
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NewsSale discussions continue following Sixes administration
The experiential cricket concept, which called in administrators back in December, has now shuttered several locations having been ‘unable to achieve a sustainable operating model amid fierce competition’
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InterviewsXP Factory ‘hopeful we’ll see confidence come back this year’
Chief executive Richard Harpham tells MCA investors remain confident in the experiential leisure group despite it recently revising down profit forecasts
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InterviewsPitch tees up smaller format to support expansion drive
The competitive socialising brand will launch a smaller footprint venue in London this year with co-founder Chris Ingham telling MCA it will unlock greater expansion opportunities both here and overseas
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InterviewsFreight Island: ‘We really want to be adding to a city if we open there’
Managing director Dan Morris tells MCA about the group’s plans to quadruple the size of its estate over the next 18 months with openings in London, Newcastle and Leeds
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NewsBoxpark ‘assessing alternative formats’ as losses widen
Despite a small uptick in turnover, the street food and retail group saw pre-tax losses widen from £3.8m to £12m following ‘a challenging year’
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NewsLane7 appoints first chairman
MD Gavin Hughes said the competitive socialising sector is entering a period of consolidation, with a clear opportunity for the boutqiue bowling operator to gain market share