Various Eateries said it had achieved “very strong” trading post-reopening in May last year, with total group revenue up 36% to £22.3m, for the 53-weeks to 3 October 2021, compared to 2020.

The 13-strong group, which operates the Coppa Club and Tavolino brands, recorded adjusted EBITDA of £1.2m, compared to a loss of £0.8 in 2020, with a total loss for the period of £3.7m, compared to a loss of £14.4m the prior year.

Like-for-like sales at Coppa Club were up 21% from 17 May 2021 to the period end, compared to 2019 sales, with several sites achieving multiple record weekly and monthly sales.

During the financial year the business opened two new sites – Coppa Club Cobham (December 2020) and Coppa Club Clifton Village (July 2021), which it said were both performing ahead of internal budgets.

It also appointed Raj Manek as property director, in order to accelerate its site acquisition programme.

The business, founded by Hugh Osmond, also reported an “encouraging” post-period performance, despite the impact of Plan B measures, with sales from its Coppa Club sites outside London up 25% in the four weeks since restrictions were lifted, compared to 2020.

Since the year end it has opened Coppa Club Putney (November 2021) with Coppa Club venues in Haslemere and Bath expected to open in the first half of the 2022 calendar year.

Various Eateries said its pipeline of prime sites continued to grow with several either agreed or in advanced negotiations.

Its healthy liquidity position and robust balance sheet puts the group in a strong position to accelerate growth coming out of the pandemic, it added, with net cash of £7.3m at the period end.

Andy Bassadone, executive chairman, Various Eateries, said it was clear that the appeal of its brands had held strong.

“While open, Coppa Clubs have been in high demand, breakfast through to evening drinks, while Tavolino continues to be popular with City-dwellers. Our hotels, similarly, saw great wedding and staycation trade in the Summer.

“Post-period, notwithstanding the impact the introduction of ‘Plan B’ had on our estate over the Christmas period and through much of January this year, recent trading has been encouraging with momentum building as consumer confidence increases.”