CG Restaurants & Bars has announced record December trading figures as it prepares to open two more bars under the banner of Dirty Martini.
It has reported a 7.5% increase in like-for-like sales across the group which includes London restaurants Tuttons and Fire & Stone and cocktail bar Bitter Sweet.
Its flagship cocktail bar concept Dirty Martini, which is now in three London sites in Covent Garden, Hanover Square and Bishopsgate, achieved like-for-like sales of 24% in December.
CG chief executive Scott Matthews confirmed that negotiations were currently under way on two new Dirty Martini bars, scheduled to open in the first half of 2014, as part of plans to open four new sites in London this year.
He said: “December trading surpassed all expectations and capped a watershed year for CG. We managed to combine a focus on enhancing existing units with a commitment to expansion throughout 2013, providing a fantastic platform for us to continue to expand in 2014 and beyond.”
Pre-booked business at the group was “significant” and increased 29% on the previous year, accounting for 63% of sales in the bars across the Christmas period.
The company added that key contributors to the pre-booked figures were investment in marketing and sales resources coupled with a continued focus on digital and social channels. This is expected to fuel further “substantial” growth in 2014.
CG launched its third Dirty Martini bar at Bishopsgate in the City of London last year (pictured) which achieved trading in December that was 41% ahead of budget.
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