Pub boss back with 31 pubs from Burtonwood

Derek Wade, the former Boddingtons and Mulligans director, is making a comeback with 31 pubs bought from Burtonwood Brewery.

He has formed a partnership with Mike Scott, former commercial director at Boddingtons Pub Company, specialising in bottom-end tenanted houses.

The pubs, worth £2.6m, are located across the width of the UK from Leicester in the south to Manchester in the north. The duo have financed the deal with personal funds and bank debt.

The package represents a tough challenge for Mr Wade and Mr Scott. Few of the pubs made a positive contribution to Burtonwood last year and many are thought to have trading or social problems.

"I don't like the word bottom-end," said Mr Wade. "We already operate six of the pubs we are buying. Three of those were closed before we took over - they're now doing 200 barrels each, per year.

"It's about focused management and finding the right licensee."

Mr Wade has a CV crammed with industry experience. Most prominently, he was managing director of Boddingtons pubco, before setting up a chain of Irish bars under the Mulligans Irish Whiskey Emporiums banner.

He has also held directorships at a clutch of other pub groups including Amberway Ventures, Flairway, Norseman Leisure, and Penway Services.

His latest venture will operate under the Mayvale name. The two parties exchanged contracts last week.

News of the deal came as Burtonwood Brewery announced annual results, with underlying profits up 16.9 per cent to £11.2m.