Ultimate Leisure appoints new director after 'satisfactory' December

Northern bar and club operator Ultimate Leisure has appointed Alka Bali as a non-executive director, as it looks to acquire new sites to drive forward its business.

Bali was a director at property group Dawnay Day International and has also worked as a director at Close Brothers Corporate Finance.

The company said like-for-like sales, which strip out the effect of new openings, were up one percent during December compared with 2005.

Ultimate Leisure executive chairman Mark Jones said: “We are satisfied with trading over the important December period as we continue to implement our reinvestment strategy.”

In the six months to 31 December the group purchased the freehold of The Attic in Newcastle and short leaseholds of two bars in Belfast.

A new Prohibition bar and grill opened in the City of London last December and the company disposed of two nightclubs in Rotherham, South Yorkshire and South Shields, Tyne & Wear.

In October 2006 Colin Rowlinson quit as Ultimate’s business development director.

Ultimate Leisure reports a drop in sales >>

Ultimate plans national rollout for Prohibition >>

Ultimate pins recovery hopes on refurbishment and expansion >>

Ultimate Leisure website >>

By Chris Druce

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