Herald Inns plans to revamp Brannigans late-night chain

by Tony Halstead

 Lancashire-based Herald Inns & Bars has embarked on a major investment programme aimed at revamping its late-night bar chain Brannigans.

 Two of the company's flagship bars in Blackpool and Chester have already been the subject of substantial refurbishment schemes at a joint cost of well in excess of £2m. Three further projects at Brannigans in Reading, Manchester and Romford are expected to follow.

 Herald has reduced the number of Brannigans bars to 11 after taking on 15 outlets from the failed Mustard Group last year.

 Managing director Frank Romano said that the make-over was designed to restore the Brannigans retail concept to its former glory.

 'Like many bars, Brannigans ran into difficult times as a result of meltdown on the high street a few years back.

 'But the concept is nevertheless a sound one and with tight management controls and investment to move each bar forward we believe we can bring the good times back again, Romano said. Brannigans was an early player on the emerging high-street circuit scene back in the 1990s and its pioneering outlet at Blackpool is now 15 years old.

 The concept was originally launched by First Leisure, but it was transferred to a number of different operators before the acquisition by Herald.

 Romano stressed that Branni-gans' core retail offer would continue to focus on providing live music and top DJs.

 'Brannigans will remain very much a colourful 'dance anywhere' type of theme which has been its hallmark over the years, he stressed.

 But new designs will concentrate on a more 'female-friendly interior format with the accent on better lighting and enhanced toilet facilities.

 Herald will also introduce an improved food offering and is looking to replicate a new concept, Lot 67, which is a feature of the Chester refurbishment.

 Lot 67 operates as a cafe bar at the front section of the bar, serving breakfasts, lunches and a night-time 'grazer menu featuring light bites and snacks.

 'Basically our long-term plan is to revitalise an old name on the high street, and paramount to these plans will be a focus on customer service and staff training, Romano added.

 Herald Inns & Bars runs an estate of 42 venues including another branded concept Mood a small chain of eight late-night bars that it acquired from the collapsed Bakersfield Leisure last year.

 The estate also includes a number of unbranded pubs.

 Herald Inns & Bars is a sister company to Trust Inns, which operates close on 600 tenanted pubs across the country.

 Both companies trade under the umbrella of millionaire leisure tycoon Trevor Hemmings.

 Colourful figure

 Herald Inns & Bars managing director Frank Romano is a well-known and colourful figure in the pub and drinks industry.

 His introduction to the sector came as operations director to the Parisa Group.

 Parisa Bars, a joint wine shop and cafe bar concept, brought together off and on-trade retailing on the same site for the first time.

 Romano was also directly involved in launching the cut-price chain of Boozebuster stores, which were born out of the former Cellar Five operation owned by Greenalls through the 1990s.

 He also played professional football for Stoke City and Crewe Alexandra and enjoyed a spell in his native Italy playing for Sicily.

 'I left Italy to avoid compulsory national service, he admitted, 'but if its discipline that is required to get Brannigans back to the top I have plenty of that, he promised.