Red Engine has signed a new franchise deal with Loyola Group, the operator of multiple hospitality establishments across Ireland and Portugal.
The partnership – backed by Irish entrepreneur Barry McGrath – will see the Flight Club and Electric Shuffle operator introduce its social darts concept to Ireland, beginning with a launch on Dublin’s Dawson Street by early 2025.
Loyola Group marks the third franchise partnership for Red Engine. State of Play Hospitality owns and operates Flight Club venues in North America, while NightOwl Entertainment owns and operates Flight Club venues in Australia.
The Dublin site will take Flight Club’s estate to 27. At the end of 2024, the total Red Engine and partners’ estate – inclusive of Flight Club and Electric Shuffle – will stand at 34.
Loyola Group also exploring future potential sites across Ireland and Portugal.
Red Engine’s openings pipeline for the year further includes Flight Club Sydney, Melbourne, Washington, Philadelphia, Oxford, and Liverpool.
The announcement comes following the recent news that Red Engine has secured a new £60m facility from Santander, HSBC, and Barclays to support its global expansion plans.
Steve Moore, CEO and co-founder of Red Engine, commented: “We are delighted to be partnering with such an exceptional team, with proven success across Ireland and Portugal. This partnership has been five years in the making, as we have worked together to find the perfect location to introduce Flight Club to the people of Ireland. We are so excited to see all this work come to fruition when Flight Club opens in Dublin later this year. This new partnership supports the company’s goal to make groups of friends everywhere ridiculously happy, and we are thrilled to have Loyola Group and Barry McGrath join us on this beautiful journey.”
Stephen Cooney, director and co-founder of Loyola Group, added: “We are thrilled to be opening the first Flight Club in Dublin later this year. We met Steve (Moore) and Paul (Barham), founders of Flight Club, some five years ago. During this time, we have watched Flight Club grow into one of the biggest and most exciting social entertainment businesses worldwide. We have worked patiently to find the perfect location for Irelands first Flight Club. Dawson Street, Dublin 2 is a fitting address for Flight Club and together with the Red Engine team we will deliver a unique and thrilling venue that Dublin has been waiting for.”
