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In 2002 three friend in Bristol had an idea to open up a café bar, inspired by travels in Australia and New Zealand. That first bar was in Bristol, it was called Lounge, and it would grow in to the 7th biggest restaurant group in the UK.

Alex Reilley is the Co-founder and Chairman of Loungers plc, they have over 260 ‘Lounge’ café bars in the UK, as well as their restaurant brand Cosy Club and a new venture called Brightside service stations.

Alex will be talking about how the group has not only navigated a financial crisis, a pandemic, rising energy prices, and a cost of living crisis, but is growing and still expanding 22 years after they started.

With plans for hundreds of more locations around the UK, and now taking on the world of service stations, we will hear about the aims for the group and how they feel the hospitality industry has changed in the two decades since they started.

You can contact You & Yours by emailing youandyours@bbc.co.uk or using the hashtag #youandyours

Presenter: Winifred Robinson
Producer: Dave James