Stonegate Pub Company invests £2m across the West Midlands

It said that the highlight of the investment programme, which covers large branded businesses as well as smaller community focused locals, had been the opening of a new Missoula bar and separate nightclub, Luna, in Solihull.

Transformation of the two high street businesses resulted in the creation of 53 new jobs in Solihull.

Other businesses benefitting from investment included the Sack of Potatoes in Gosta Green, Harborne Stores on the High Street, Phoenix in Coventry, Slug and Lettuce in Bromsgrove, The George Wallis in Wolverhampton and Yates’s in Wolverhampton, creating a further 10 positions, so far.

In addition, the 550-strong pub company also opened its new training academy, entitled ‘Albert’s Academy’ on Broad Street as a centre of excellence for all internal training and food development within the business.

Stonegate Pub Company’s commercial director Suzanne Baker said: “We own a large number of pubs in and around Birmingham and see it as an important City for the development of our business. Investing in our pubs is fundamental to the success of these businesses, a key driver for bringing in new custom.

“Each one of pubs that we have invested in plays a vital role within their respective communities whether as friendly local, a place to enjoy a quality, value for money meal, somewhere to meet friends and watch top-class sport or as party destination.

“By creating a dedicated training centre and development kitchen we are demonstrating a clear signal to our employees, that we take their career progression seriously, and also to the wider community who see pub work as transient, that this is really not the case.”