Loungers

Loungers is a British hospitality group founded in Bristol in 2002 by Alex Reilley, David Reid, and Jake Bishop. The founders contributed £10,000 to open the first Lounge in a former opticians unit on North Street in Bedminster. The business initially focused on operating as a bar, but food was subsequently added and became a central part of the proposition. Loungers developed a format combining casual dining, drinking, and informal social spaces, with individual sites generally adapted to local buildings and communities rather than built as a uniform high-street template. The group first expanded predominantly in England and entered Wales in 2007 with the opening of Juno Lounge in Roath, Cardiff. Its original Lounge concept became the foundation of a wider estate of cafe-bars, while the company later added distinct formats aimed at different locations and customer occasions. In 2010, Loungers announced Cosy Club, a more premium and design-led restaurant brand intended for historic or listed buildings. The first Cosy Club opened in Taunton, Somerset, in September 2010. The format has used architecturally distinctive properties, including a large three-floor former casino building in Nottingham that opened as a Cosy Club in 2020. Loungers reached its 100th site in May 2017 with Capo Lounge in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. It reached 200 sites in September 2023 with Verdetto Lounge in Buckingham, Buckinghamshire. The group has subsequently operated more than 250 locations across the United Kingdom, although the precise estate size can change as new sites open and formats evolve. Its third brand, Brightside, was announced in 2022 and launched in 2023 as a roadside dining concept. Brightside draws on the visual and commercial heritage of British roadside cafes and diners, including the former Little Chef and Happy Eater traditions. Loungers acquired three sites previously used by Route Restaurants and converted them for the new concept; the first Brightside opened at Kennford near Exeter in February 2023. Ownership of the business has changed as it expanded. Piper Private Equity acquired a minority stake in 2012 through a reported £16 million investment. Piper exited in 2016 through a transaction in which Lion Capital acquired a majority stake, and Alex Reilley subsequently became executive chairman. In February 2025, Fortress Investment Group acquired Loungers in a transaction reported at US$486 million, returning the business to private ownership under new investment ownership. The company was materially affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Its sites closed during the first national restrictions in March 2020, directors' pay was reduced by half, and Santander and the Bank of Ireland agreed to provide a revolving credit facility of £15 million over 18 months to support liquidity. Loungers reopened in stages during April and May 2021, initially offering takeaway and outdoor dining where regulations permitted. By October 2021, reported revenue had nearly doubled as trading recovered. The group has also been active in public discussion of hospitality regulation, with Reilley criticizing proposed coronavirus passport requirements for restaurants and bars in April 2021. Loungers' present identity is built around a multi-format, all-day hospitality model spanning neighbourhood cafe-bars, destination restaurants in heritage properties, and roadside dining venues.

Loungers began in August 2002 when Alex Reilley, David Reid, and Jake Bishop pooled £10,000 to open a venue called Lounge in a former opticians unit on North Street in Bedminster, Bristol. The founders initially conceived the business primarily as a bar, but food was introduced later and became fundamental to the operating model. This combination of casual food, drinks, and relaxed interiors shaped the identity of the Lounge format. The early estate was concentrated mainly in England. In 2007, Loungers expanded into Wales by opening Juno Lounge in Roath, Cardiff. Rather than relying solely on a standardized restaurant design, the company developed venues with locally distinctive names and interiors, helping it fit into neighbourhood high streets and town centres. The format was intended to support different dayparts, from breakfast and coffee through lunch, evening meals, and drinks. Loungers broadened its brand portfolio in 2010 with the creation of Cosy Club. The new concept targeted more prominent buildings, particularly historic and listed properties, and used a more elaborate restaurant environment than the neighbourhood Lounge format. Its first branch opened in Taunton, Somerset, on 3 September 2010. In January 2020, Cosy Club opened what was then its largest restaurant in a three-floor former casino building on Victoria Street in Nottingham. The Grade II listed property had been vacant for 17 years and was purchased for £1 million before its conversion. The group continued to increase its site count. Capo Lounge in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, opened on 10 May 2017 as the company's 100th site. On 13 September 2023, Verdetto Lounge in Buckingham, Buckinghamshire, became the 200th site. The wider estate subsequently exceeded 250 venues across the United Kingdom and consisted of the Lounge and Cosy Club formats, later joined by Brightside. The company's ownership structure changed as it grew. Piper Private Equity invested £16 million for a minority stake in April 2012. Piper exited in December 2016 through a £137 million transaction in which Lion Capital acquired a majority stake. During the Lion Capital period, Alex Reilley became executive chairman. In February 2025, Fortress Investment Group acquired Loungers in a deal reported at US$486 million. The COVID-19 pandemic created a major interruption to operations. Loungers closed its branches during the restrictions introduced in March 2020. In April, Reilley said directors' pay had been cut by 50 percent as part of cost-saving measures. The group's lending banks, Santander and the Bank of Ireland, agreed to an £15 million revolving credit facility over 18 months to help manage capital during the crisis. As restrictions eased in 2021, Loungers reopened in stages. Forty-seven English sites initially reopened for takeaway and outdoor dining during the third national lockdown, while five Welsh sites were allowed to reopen under equivalent arrangements on 26 April. All Lounges had reopened by May, and reported revenue had nearly doubled by October 2021. Reilley also publicly opposed the proposed use of coronavirus passports at bars and restaurants, arguing in April 2021 that hospitality was being targeted disproportionately and that ticketed venues such as cinemas, theatres, and sports grounds were better suited to entry checks. The company later resumed expansion, launching Brightside as a roadside dining concept in 2023. The brand was influenced by the legacy of Little Chef and other British roadside diners. Loungers acquired three of four sites previously operated by Route Restaurants and converted them into Brightside venues. The first opened at Kennford near Exeter Racecourse in February 2023, and four Brightside sites were reported across Cornwall, Devon, and Rutland by November 2024.

• 2025

  Fortress acquires Loungers

  [1]Loungersen.wikipedia.org

  Fortress Investment Group acquires the hospitality group in a transaction reported at US$486 million.

• 2023

  200th site opens

  [1]Loungersen.wikipedia.org

  Verdetto Lounge in Buckingham becomes the group's 200th location.

• 2023

  First Brightside opens

  [1]Loungersen.wikipedia.org

  The inaugural Brightside launches at a former roadside restaurant site in Kennford near Exeter.

• 2022

  Brightside announced

  [1]Loungersen.wikipedia.org

  Loungers announces Brightside, a roadside dining brand inspired by British cafe and diner formats.

• 2021

  Phased reopening begins

  [1]Loungersen.wikipedia.org

  Loungers reopens selected sites for takeaway and outdoor service in April, with the wider estate reopening by May as restrictions ease.

• 2020

  Largest Cosy Club opens at the time

  [1]Loungersen.wikipedia.org

  A three-floor Cosy Club opens in a former Grade II listed casino building in Nottingham.

• 2020

  COVID-19 financing arranged

  [1]Loungersen.wikipedia.org

  Santander and the Bank of Ireland agree an 18-month revolving credit facility to support Loungers during the pandemic.

• 2017

  100th site opens

  [1]Loungersen.wikipedia.org

  Capo Lounge in Mansfield becomes Loungers' 100th site.

• 2012

  Piper invests in Loungers

  [1]Loungersen.wikipedia.org

  Piper Private Equity acquires a minority stake through a reported £16 million investment.

• 2010

  Cosy Club introduced

  [1]Loungersen.wikipedia.org

  Loungers announces and launches Cosy Club, a restaurant concept aimed particularly at historic and listed buildings.

• 2007

  Expansion into Wales

  [1]Loungersen.wikipedia.org

  Loungers opens Juno Lounge in Roath, Cardiff, marking its expansion beyond its initial English estate.

• 2002

  First Lounge opens in Bristol

  [1]Loungersen.wikipedia.org

  Alex Reilley, David Reid, and Jake Bishop open the first Lounge in a former opticians unit on North Street in Bedminster, Bristol.

A UK multi-format hospitality group focused on accessible all-day dining, drinks, and social spaces. Lounge sites are positioned as informal neighbourhood cafe-bars; Cosy Club emphasizes more distinctive interiors and historic or listed buildings; Brightside extends the group into roadside dining inspired by traditional British diner and cafe formats.

• Neighbourhood cafe-bar · 2002

  Lounge

  The original Loungers format is a relaxed neighbourhood cafe-bar offering food and drink throughout the day. Sites typically combine breakfast, coffee, lunch, dinner, desserts, alcoholic drinks, and informal social space. The concept developed from the first Bristol venue and has been rolled out through individually named locations designed to fit local high streets and town centres.

• Casual dining restaurant · 2010

  Cosy Club

  Cosy Club is Loungers' more destination-oriented restaurant format. It is associated with prominent historic or listed buildings and more elaborate interiors than the standard Lounge concept. The restaurants provide all-day dining and drinks, with the format designed to operate across breakfast, daytime meals, evening dining, and social occasions.

• Roadside restaurant · 2023

  Brightside

  Brightside is Loungers' roadside dining concept, launched in 2023 after being announced the previous year. Its design and positioning draw on the history of British roadside cafes and diners, including associations with Little Chef and Happy Eater. Loungers converted former roadside restaurant sites, including locations acquired from Route Restaurants, for the new brand.

• 2025

  Fortress Investment Group acquisitionM&A

  Background

  After periods of private-equity ownership and continued estate expansion, Loungers changed ownership again in 2025.

  Action taken

  Fortress Investment Group acquired Loungers.

  Aftermath

  Loungers remained an active UK hospitality group under private investment ownership.

  Reported acquisition value. US$486 million (February 2025)

  Source

• 2022

  Develop Brightside for roadside diningProduct launch

  Background

  Loungers identified an opportunity to enter the roadside restaurant segment using design cues from earlier British cafe and diner chains.

  Action taken

  The group announced Brightside and acquired three sites formerly used by Route Restaurants for conversion.

  Aftermath

  The first Brightside opened at Kennford in February 2023, followed by additional sites in southwest and central England.

  Source

• 2010

  Create the Cosy Club brandProduct launch

  Background

  Loungers sought to extend beyond its neighbourhood cafe-bar format and develop a concept suited to prominent historic and listed properties.

  Action taken

  The company announced Cosy Club and opened its first site in Taunton in September 2010.

  Aftermath

  Cosy Club became one of the group's three operating brands and expanded into distinctive properties across the United Kingdom.

  Source

1. 1Loungersen.wikipedia.org