Coin-op amusements news | Family entertainment group bullish despite 2020 losses

With 46 bowling-led family entertainment centres across the UK, Ten Entertainment only had 11 “normal” weeks of trading in 2020, with 25 weeks of total closure and 16 weeks of disrupted trading.

The group said that, as a result, its sales were £36.3m compared with £84.1m of 2019, a fall of 56.9 per cent, representing a loss of £12.2m compared with a profit of £9m.

The group’s report said that over £18m in liquidity headroom still remains, there is good progress in developing a digital platform and its development in Manchester had exceeded expectations. The company plans to reopen all centres on May 17.

Chairman Nick Basing is stepping down in September, as has already been announced.

CEO Graham Blackwell said: “2020 has been extremely challenging but we can be proud of the way we have protected the long-term future of the business. We progress towards the reopening of hospitality and leisure with a business that is fit and ready and more digitally driven than ever before. We used the time wisely in lockdown to transform our digital platforms and to prepare our business for the future, to open our next generation centre in Manchester and refurbish two of our flagship centres. We are in great shape, prepared, and looking forward to reopening, with our team eager to welcome back and entertain our customers.”