Welsh licensees want it Just So

So hacked off were Simon Griffiths, Ian and Joanne Feeney-King with the decline of pubs in their part of Swansea that they have formed their own pub company to turn round the fortunes of local hostelries.

"Ian and I have a Bass background and we used to be competitors before we got together to run the Cross Keys in Swansea. The area has been devastated by pub closures and we decided to do something about it," says Griffiths.

Thus the Just So Pub Company was born. The trio first negotiated the lease of the George, also in Swansea, with Punch Taverns.

But having slammed what he calls "faceless pubcos", why do a deal with the UK largest pub owner - no stranger to criticism regarding tenant/landlord relations?

"They have totally changed the way they work with people like us," Griffiths says. "Their attitude is no longer about getting anyone in who's got money. They were far more interested in doing a deal with a set of experienced licensees, and we've got 45 years in this trade between us."

With two pubs under their belt, and with the George on the receiving end of refurbishment spend in the region of six figures, the three then "stumbled upon" two more pubs.

Formerly owned by Enterprise Inns, the Smith Arms pubs in Llansamlet and nearby Neath Abbey had been bought at auction by a local businessman, Terry Thomas.

"Terry is a friend of ours and we've done a phenomenal free-of-tie deal with him to take on the pubs, which he's totally gutted and is refurbishing at his own expense," says Griffiths.

"There is a massive opportunity in this part of the world to bring back community pubs. We are part of that reviving process," he added.

The Just So Pub Company is to create 45 jobs in what Griffiths hopes will be the beginning of a long term business focus.