Inn the Pub to expand hotel base

Lancashire based leisure company Inn the Pub is to focus on the expansion of its hotel operations over the next six months, with the opening of two new businesses.

The company, led by Tony Callaghan, has two boutique hotel openings scheduled within the next year to join Fifteen's of Swinley, in Wigan.

All three hotels have Number Fifteen bars underneath. Fifteen's of Ashton will have nine bedrooms and is set to open in three to four months and a 17-room hotel will open in Doncaster at the old Temperance Hall in early 2012. The budget for both developments is £150,000.

His Inn the Pub concept is now 18 pubs strong, 13 of which are Number Fifteen bars.

"At the moment we are consolidating what we're doing. Fifteen's of Swinley has been such a success — we are doing phenomenal business."

The bedrooms are designed to reflect the bar area downstairs and are decked out with flat screen TVs, Sky, Wifi, leather beds, Egyptian cotton sheets and real antiques.

"The hotels follow a very top end concept," said Callaghan, who said it is still possible for businesses to grow despite the recession. "There are great opportunities out there for the high street operator, although we are seeing the high street change dramatically.

"We have gone back to basics with an old style — we are spending a lot on staff training to provide a smile and a 'natter' behind the bar, newspapers and fresh flowers are on the tables and we aim to create a community feeling."

Callaghan added that the company staff turnover is low, with some people having been with him for 20 years, due to investment and the rewards provided.