COMPANY HISTORY
Company Directors Alex Rutherford and Olly Bengough met in 1999, when both were involved in the development of Lunasa on the Kings Road. Identifying common interests, they entered into business together and launched the Mint Group.
A graduate in Design from Newcastle University, Alex spent his early career working for nightclub specialists Nicholson Design and London based agency Redhouse Design. After leaving school, Olly travelled extensively broadening his awareness of different cultures. A 6-month stint working in a busy Dublin Bar followed by working in the City gave him hands on experience that would later prove invaluable to the Mint Group ethos.
In 2000 Lunasa was short-listed by the Evening Standard as one of the Top 10 bars in London. At the time Olly, who masterminded the project, was just 23-years old!
In 2001 Alex and Olly launched the Mint Group. Blending operational skills with business acumen and a practical approach to design aesthetics, the pair struck upon a winning formula.
Recognising unexploited potential for a mass-market club in South London, the pair opened Clapham based Infernos in July 2001. Eager to service a similarly affluent clientele in neighbouring Fulham they launched the Elk Bar in September 2003. The most recent and ambitious addition to the Mint Group roster is Camden live music venue KOKO, whose doors opened in 2004.
In 2002, the Mint Group staged their first festival event, Latin Splash, on Clapham Common and over the past three years they have been responsible for bringing artists such as Paul Oakenfold, Moloko and Jamiroqui to South London for audiences of 60,000 capacity.
In 2006 the company diversified further, by launching TMG Properties, an arm of the company dedicated toward urban development. The most recent project, Mint Lodges, is a luxury log cabin development set to rejuvenate Cumbrian Tourism.
In February 2009 the company launched a TV channel dedicated to the amazing world of French film. Cinémoi is the first and only channel dedicated to French film, located on Sky channel 343 (soon to be on Virgin too) the channel has been endorsed by some of the biggest names in film including Michael Caine, Steven Berkoff, Charlotte Rampling, Jane Birkin amoungst many others.