Honeycombe Leisure - non-executive director - Simon Wood

Honeycombe Leisure has appointed Simon Wood, 48, as non-executive director of the company.

He has significant experience of the leisure industry, most notably as managing director of Beefeater Restaurants, part of Whitbread, between 1993-1999.

Previously he was marketing and commercial director of Whitbread Inns, which he joined in 1990 from Chef & Brewer, a subsidiary of Grand Metropolitan.

Most recently Mr Wood was chief executive of Wineworld, the owner of the wine-themed Vinopolis visitor attraction at London Bridge, which he left in December 2000.

Honeycombe chairman Sandy Anderson said: "Following Honeycombe's recent purchase of Devonshire Group, which increased the size of the company's estate to the extent that Honeycombe is now the largest independently managed pub group in the North-West, we are delighted to take this opportunity to attract someone of Simon's calibre to the board.

"He brings significant knowledge and expertise to the company and will prove an asset at this important stage of its development."