Hook Norton to reopen its first managed pub under tenancy

M&C Report revealed in January that the company had opened the pub, which is six miles from its head office, under a management agreement with Flagstone.
But Hook Norton Brewery’s operations manager, Bruce Benyon, told the local press: “The brewery was running it for some time under a management contract, but we were not particularly happy with the policy of the management company so we decided to terminate the contract.”
He said that the pub would now reopen in February with new tenants.
Earlier this year, joint managing director Adrian Staley said that the group may focus on managed pubs following the conclusion of its ‘five year plan’ in 2017.
He said: “We might look at managed houses after the five years. But at the moment we’ve got to get tenancies right so we’re focusing on that - the right licensees, training, developing the sites and a support package.”
In May, Hook Norton announced plans to acquire pubs within 50 miles of its brewery, focusing on market towns.