Stephanie Whalley

Luminar PLC

Luminar Plc is the United Kingdom's leading nightclub owner and operator, with more than 250 nightclubs, bars, and restaurants throughout England and Scotland, including the famed Hippodrome in central London. Luminar Plc has long backed its growth on a number of core club concepts, particularly its Chicago Rock Café theme restaurant-nightclub chain. The company also has been rolling out an increasing number of club themes, including the minimalist Liquid nightclub, which uses DVD, MPEG, and oil filter lighting technology to "decorate" the dance hall; the Latin-inspired Rhythm Room; Jumpin' Jaks, featuring live entertainment; and the family restaurant chain Tucker's Smokehouse. Other brands include Life café and "the" bars. Luminar has been expanding aggressively since the late 1990s, leading an industry consolidation in the United Kingdom. In 1999, the company bought 27 nightclubs--including the Hippodrome--from rival Allied Leisure. The £392 million acquisition of larger rival Northern Leisure in mid-2000 catapulted Luminar to the first rank of U.K. nightclub operators, adding some 200 nightclubs and restaurants, including the Jumpin' Jaks brand, and doubling the company's revenues. Luminar is led by founder and CEO Stephen Thomas.