Flight Club on its way to Ireland and Portugal

Red Engine, the team behind experiential bars Flight Club Darts and Electric Shuffle, has signed a new franchise partnership with Loyola Group, the operator of multiple hospitality establishments across Ireland and Portugal.

The partnership, backed by Irish entrepreneur Barry McGrath, will introduce the Flight Club Darts concept to Ireland, beginning with its first launch in Dublin’s Dawson Street at the end of 2024/early 2025.

Beyond Dublin, Loyola Group says it is exploring future potential sites across Ireland and Portugal. 

"We are delighted to be partnering with such an exceptional team, with proven success across Ireland and Portugal," says Steve Moore, CEO and co-founder of Red Engine. "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."

Expanding around the world

This latest announcement follows the recent news that Red Engine has secured a £60m facility from Santander, HSBC and Barclays to support its global expansion plans.  

With Flight Club Sydney, Melbourne, Washington, Philadelphia, Oxford and Liverpool also opening throughout 2024, the new Dublin venue will take the total number of Flight Club sites across the globe to 27. 

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. 

"We are thrilled to be opening the first Flight Club in Dublin later this year," adds Stephen Cooney, director and co-founder of Loyola Group. "We met Steve and Paul, 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 Ireland's first Flight Club."

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