Struggling theme park operator Ardent Leisure will exit the US entertainment sector after striking a deal to sell its Main Event business to American restaurant and entertainment business Dave & Busters for a whopping $1.1 billion.

The sale of Ardent’s strongly performing overseas division – Main Event doubled revenues in the six months to December 2021 – was not foreshadowed in previous announcements by the group. It will require shareholder approval at an extraordinary general meeting to be held later this year.