Punch Taverns unveils its 250th pub refurb of the year
The Jolly Drovers, near Consett in County Durham, reopened its doors in May after a £450,000 refurbishment .
The company says it plans to invest a total of £40m this year in upgrades to more than 400 pubs. Last year it completed 450 refurbishments at a cost of £45m.
Michelle Proud, who became licensee of the Jolly Drovers after it had been closed for two years, said: “The investment has totally transformed the pub. The locals love the new décor and they say they’ve been desperate for a place like this on their doorstep. We’re also seeing a lot of new faces as customers come in from other villages – which is great.”
Punch operations director Paul Pavli said: “The success of the programme is down to a huge task force. As well as using good repairs and decorating contractors, every refurbishment calls on our in-house specialists in cellar management, catering, menu planning, accounts, business management, marketing, event management and stock control.
“We see a strong future for our pubs, thanks to the right investment, the right planning and the right people. In particular, we’re always on the look-out for great new pub partners.”
