Breare plans new dining pub estate

Entrepreneur Robert Breare has unveiled plans to open between 50 and 75 sites in the next five years within his Merchant Inns pub vehicle.

The company currently has three outlets, the Carnarvon Arms near Newbury, the Horse & Groom in Charlton near Malmesbury and the recently-refurbished Black Boy Inn at Milton, Oxon.

Executive chairman Robert Breare said: "My view is that somewhere between 50 and 75 sites is the upper limit of what could be done with the niche we are in. I hope to achieve this number in the next three to five years." 

Breare currently has five sites in the pipeline. He said: "The funding for the new outlets is unannounced at the moment but we're hoping to announce our funding partner very shortly."

Since the company took over the Carnarvon Arms in 2005, turnover has increased from £250,000 a year to £1m a year. 

Breare said: "I believe the future is premium casual dining. I mean premium quality at affordable prices, consistently served, and by casual,

I mean informal."

Michelin-starred executive chef Rob Clayton will oversee the food at the new outlets and operations director and Carnarvon Arms manager Harwood Warrington will look after front of house.

Warrington said: "We can't reveal the locations of the new sites yet, but they are all around the M4 corridor." Breare said he has a strict shopping list when looking for new outlets.

He added: "There is an emerging luxury budget hotel niche and we're keen on outlets with rooms that are about 15 minutes away from centres of population and close to, but not on, a main arterial route."

At the moment, Breare allocates about £1m per site but expects this to increase.