Nightclubs toast end of Covid cheer

THE UK’s biggest nightclub operator hailed a bumper post-Covid recovery and said sales are well ahead of 2019 levels.

Rekom, which owns 47 venues under the Pryzm, Cameo and Atik brands, said revellers are ‘arriving earlier and staying longer’.

Chairman Peter Marks also said the amount clubbers are spending at his bars and nightclubs has jumped by a quarter from before the pandemic.

Rekom said that there has been a ‘great reset’ since lockdown restrictions were lifted and trading was stronger than it has been for years.

Overall sales in the year to June 30 were £101.7m, up from £86m before Covid struck. Profit was £26.3m, compared with £12.4m in the same period of 2019.

Marks said many operators are struggling and called for support from the Government as energy bills spiral – but he said Rekom is ‘in rude health’. He said: ‘Whilst we cannot control the global economy, we know that good value, well-invested propositions thrive through times of adversity. We will continue to focus on our guests and doing what we do best – creating fun, safe nights out.’