Scottish bar and restaurant group Buzzworks Holdings is looking to “explore new growth opportunities” after being buoyed by strong trading results across its entire portfolio of 20 venues.
The confidence for expansion follows the opening of its flagship new restaurant, Scotts in Greenock, which saw a record number of visitors and sales in its opening weeks.
The company said it is trading ahead of expectations with projected sales growth up more than 25% on the previous year.
Its newest offerings on the East coast, Herringbone Abbey Hill and 30 Knots, have contributed to the strong trading.
New outdoor hotspot Outboard in South Queensferry has also helped expand the Ayrshire firm’s customer base by bringing in a new audience with its dog friendly offering situated amongst Scotland’s three bridges.
Managing Director, Kenny Blair, said he is looking to further accelerate growth by taking the winning formula to new locations.
He said: “It’s been a challenging climate for hospitality operators for some time and we’ve not been immune, but the tailwind of opportunity is here and we plan to catch it. Based on insights from across our portfolio, as well as our detailed understanding of the market, we believe there is an opportunity for significant growth in Scotland.
“You have to look for the opportunities and adjust – the best companies always do and that’s what will drive us forward at pace. We have a successful format and vision that we won’t compromise on. When we open in a new location our commitment is to invest in more than bricks and mortar.
“It’s not just opening a bar or restaurant to us. It’s about community and if we can make living in a town just that little bit better, we’ve done our job. We’ve always stood by this and by creating jobs and careers for local people, as well as bringing an aspirational dining experience and a place for socialising, the community has shown its support it by coming through our doors week after week. We are forever mindful and grateful of that.”
Blair added: “This year, we rolled out our biggest expansion to date in the East coast and we’re already seeing the success of that. Our in-house development team has decades of experience and is fired up and growth is on the horizon with three new sites currently under offer. With new venues comes even more employment opportunities so we will be looking to grow our team significantly in the months ahead.”
