Café and bar operator Loungers has showed how high demand has been to socialise post-lockdowns, as it cheered sales much higher than pre-pandemic levels.

The AIM-listed firm, which has 181 sites, said it plans to open 10 more sites in the current financial year.

Chief executive Nick Collins said: “Loungers continues to thrive as we put Covid behind us and manage the current challenges facing our sector.”

The hospitality industry was able to start reopening from the latest lockdown in April, with indoor trading starting in May.

Loungers said in the 20 weeks to October 3, comparable sales were 26.6% higher than what was recorded between May 20 and October 6 in 2019.

The chain said although trading and sales got an uplift benefit from the VAT reduction, “the continued strength of performance is testimony to the relevance and resilience of our brands”.

Boss Collins added: “This success reinforces our roll-out strategy and we look ahead with confidence, with our pipeline of future sites as strong as it ever has been.”

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