Chorion has reported a 62 per cent rise in turnover last month, allaying fears that falling tourist numbers in London might affect trading at its bars and nightclubs.

The company said revenues were £7.1m in the four weeks to December 31 2001.

Like-for-like sales for the four-week period were 4.4 per cent ahead, following an 18 per cent rise for the Millennium celebrations in 2000.

Average weekly sales of each of Chorion's 18 outlets, including five Tiger Tigers, were £99,000, compared with an average of £92,000 in the previous year, when 12 outlets were trading.

This was a tremendous performance taking into account the huge increase in volumes that we witnessed last year.

Restaurant bookings have also been outstanding across the group, which I believe confirms both the growing popularity of our trading philosophy and the strength of the West End market place, commented Chorion Bars managing director, Robert Cohen.

New Tiger Tigers are scheduled for Croydon, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Bristol, Nottingham and Dublin.