Hospitality investor Imbiba has invested £1.4m in NQ64, the immersive retro-arcade bar concept, to aid its further growth plans, Propel has learned. As part of the investment in the current three-strong NQ64, David McDowall, chief operating officer at BrewDog, has become its new chairman, with Andrew Stones, ex-managing director of Be At One, representing Imbiba on the company’s board. NQ64 was founded by Matt Robson and Andy Haygarth, with the concept described as an “underground drinking den filled with retro arcade games and classic consoles”.
It currently operates sites in Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham. Imbiba said the new investment will fund the development of a strong property pipeline of sites in Newcastle, Leeds and Edinburgh. Haygarth, who with Robson acquired the Black Dog Ballroom business in 2018, said: “We are really pleased to be working with Imbiba – its industry knowledge and expertise makes it the perfect partner for us.
