Stonegate says Yates's revamp has been a success

The group has already invested £600,000 upgrading its two sites in Colchester and Brighton to the new format and hopes to update a further two units from its 75-strong Yates’s estate before the end of the year.

Chief executive Toby Smith told the Publican’s Morning Advertiser’s sister title M&C Report that trading at the Colchester site, which opened in August, has already exceeded expectations with food sales doubling in that period.

The focus of the new format is on sharing across drinks and food.

The new drinks menu features frozen cocktails at £7.95 each, served in milk bottles, which can incorporate a selection of ‘side car’ shots for £1.50 each.

The company believes this is the first time this style of serve has been presented in the UK.

Fresh fizz​

The sites also include sparkling white and pink wines on tap at £2.95 a glass and alcoholic hard sodas, which are “freshly fizzed” on site.

Consumers can order a panel of flavoured vodka shots, with a mixed paddle of six costing £10 and 12 priced at £18. There are also big bowls and pitchers priced at £10.95 to £12.95.

The food menu includes sharing boards, a chargrill BBQ menu, which includes any two side dishes for  free, alongside an ‘all-time classics’ menu and selection of salads.

The site also features a sauce station, handing control over to the consumers on how spicy they would like their condiment.

The company says the overall design is lighter, brighter and more female friendly.

There is booth seating and the interior has been stripped back.