Samuel Cooper Freehouse concept to be discontinued
A town centre concept trial undertaken by Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) is to be discontinued.
The managed pub company began a trial of concept called Samuel Cooper Freehouse at the start of this year in about six pubs.
The venues offered carvery meals every day, breakfasts in the morning and Costa Coffee.
Industry observers thought the concept was largely modelled on JD Wetherspoon.
However, the six pubs are among the 333 sites sold by M&B to Stonegate Pub Company, the new pub operating vehicle backed by TDR Capital.
A source close to Stonegate indicated that the sites had not achieved the sales uplifts need to continue the trial and will be run as unbranded high street venues.
