THE operator of Southampton’s biggest nightclub has seen a 50 per cent increase in profits over the last year.

The UK’s largest nightclub operator, The Luminar Group, which runs Oceana in West Quay Road, announced the figures for the year until February 22.

The company, which employs 2,000 people and operates 53 nightclubs nationwide, racked up pre-tax profits of £3.4m in only its second full year of trading under a new management team.

Russell Quelch, general manager of Oceana, which employs more than 100 staff, said it was “happy days”.

He said: “We’ve had a great year as a club and the company is going in the right direction too, which is beneficial for us, it gives us more support.

“The staff have been great, the morale is good. It’s been a good time over the last 18 months.”

He added that during the past year and a half the club, which has a capacity for 4,000 people, has “stamped its position back to where it used to be as the premier nightclub in town”.

Luminar’s regional director Ged Gorrie said: “We have a clear plan in place to continue to position Luminar as the best nightclub operator in the UK.

“A passion for innovation, together with a commitment to customer service, is a key part of our plan to remain at the forefront of the industry.

“And at Oceana we offer one of the region’s best nights out.

“We are pleased with the consistent progress we are making. Our trading position continues to strengthen as the effects of investment in our estate and our people, together with a robust focus on cost control, improve profitability.”