London licensees go west

Two London licensees have taken on second sites in Cornwall with St Austell Brewery.

Ben Wright, of oyster wholesaler the Wright Brothers, who also runs the Wright Brother's Oyster and Porterhouse in Borough Market, has taken on the tenancy of the Ferryboat Inn, Helford Passage, Cornwall. Wright has launched an oyster bar at the pub.

Bill and Diane English who run Stamford's Wine Bar in Southwark, London, have taken on the tenancy of the St Agnes Hotel, St Agnes.

Rick Stein protégé Mark Devonshire, who worked for the chef for 15 years, has been appointed head chef at St Austell's Pedn Olva hotel in St Ives.

Meanwhile, four of St Austell's 25 managed pubs have been converted to tenancy, including the Cornish Arms, taken on by celebrity chef Rick Stein, Five Degrees West in Falmouth, and the Sharks Fin in Megavissey.

A £700,000 bottling line at the brewery opens in June, driven by demand for the brewery's ales both regionally and nationally.

Sales of St Austell Brewery's flagship Tribute ale have increased by 20% in the past 12 months.

It has initial capacity to bottle up to 100,000 bottles a week.