The brand, which combines cocktail bars and karaoke rooms, has venues in Soho, Islington and Holborn in London, as well as Brighton and Dubai. By the end of 2024, it aims to grow to 10 owner-operator venues, including having a ‘significantly expanded’ presence in London and new sites in Manchester and Birmingham, along with further franchise development in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
The expansion plans come off the back of strong results for the business, which says it has outperformed all expectations when reopening post lockdown in May 2021, returning to 2019 levels of trade within weeks. It reports that its 2021/22 financial year has been its most successful to date with revenue up by 22%, and EBITDA up by 57% on 2019, while the business reached record levels of trade in recent months, with revenue from its venues between March and May 2022 44% up on budget and 54% up on the same period in 2019.
Lucky Voice also investing to improve its existing estate, with more than £500,000 earmarked to refurbish venues and upgrade software and technology, including the development and launch of a new loyalty app. The programme has begun with its debut venue, on Poland Street in Soho, which has undergone a £300,000 investment process and now features a new food and drinks menu with an environmentally-friendly focus featuring symbols on the menu that show which suppliers are B-Corp certified, UK-based and certified organic.
“We’ve been delivering phenomenal nights out since 2005, and we’re sounding better than ever in 2022,” says Lucky Voice managing director Charlie Elek.
“The refurbishment of our Soho site forms part of a wider strategy for the business, as we seek to grow and invest in our venues to ensure we provide the most amazing experience, both for guests and for our teams. Our mission is to combine karaoke with great service, technology and food and drink, and we’re constantly thinking about how to give people their favourite night out.”