Dubai-based entertainment group Solutions Leisure Group will open a second Lock, Stock & Barrel venue in the second quarter of 2017, managing director Paul Evans revealed during an exclusive interview with Catering News Middle East.
Scheduled to launch in May, the two-floor bar will be double the size of the original outlet in Grand Millennium Barsha Heights, with 20,000ft2 of space.
While the ground floor will be an exact replica of the original, a new, casual F&B concept is being planned for the second floor.
Evans commented: “It will be Lock, Stock & Barrel the sequel with another very large food component bolted in. This will be a very interesting not-seen-in-Dubai food component with alcohol, multiple cuisines, live music, and an urban street carnival feel to it.
“It will allow people to pop in, have a bite to eat, drink a cold beverage, and be home for 10.30pm – it will be slightly more casual, not a full-on party. It’s our evolution of LSB.”
Located within a hotel on Dubai’s JBR Walk, which is scheduled to open next year, the venue will have views over Bluewaters Island.
According to Evans, Solutions Leisure is targeting three Lock, Stock & Barrel venues in Dubai, with the third to be located in the downtown area. A venue for this has already been earmarked but cannot be confirmed.
Solutions Leisure has received five international franchise requests for Lock, Stock & Barrel venues in Las Vegas, New York, Melbourne, London and Hong Kong.
Evans commented: “From a capacity point of view it might be challenging to do five licenses in one year but if we have five great partners, why not? It’s all about the partner and the real estate. We adore that brand – we’re not going to be a licensing company that gives you a manual and you see us once a year to collect the cheque.
“LSB is a brand that wherever it lands, it will do extremely well. It’s that midpoint – easily accessible, incredibly well designed and well serviced, well delivered and allows a billionaire or a car salesman to have a great night. It will fit in in every major city around the world; it’s doing double turnover of any of our venues.”
In addition to Lock, Stock & Barrel, Solutions Leisure is behind homegrown venues Q43 in Media One Hotel and Asia Asia in Dubai Marina’s Pier 7.
The group also manages the franchise operations of Karma Kafé and upcoming Melbourne seafood brand, The Atlantic, both located in Souk Al Bahar, Dubai.
