Camerons continues estate revamp and secures first new Head of Steam
The company also secured a first new site for Head of Steam, the pub concept it acquired last year: the Dun Cow in Sunderland.
Camerons said it has refurbishment schemes completed or planned at 25 venues within its 71 retail pub estate, to upgrade the venues and improve retail offers under the company’s QISS initiative (Quality, Innovation, Standards & Service).
This has been running alongside new signage schemes to improve curb appeal in both the managed and leased and tenanted pubs, the firm added.
Camerons has also reopened eight closed sites with investment, removing them from the disposal list and returning them into the core estate.
Dun Cow
The leasehold Dun Cow in the city centre is to be converted to the Head of Steam at the Dun Cow when it reopens in late September. It is the first new site for Head of Steam, although Camerons did convert its own Aspire managed pub in Tynemouth to a Head of Steam in April this year.
The Dun Cow development is being undertaken in partnership with owner Leighton Management and the Sunderland MAC Trust, a local music trust, as part of plans to create a Music, Arts and Cultural Quarter (MACQ) in the centre of Sunderland.
Camerons pub estates & operations director Joe Smith said: “The vision of the MACQ will create a vibrant cultural environment in the city, and The Dun Cow will be at the centre of this.
“We are working closely with the team to restore the venue to its previous glory, and all of the historic features will be kept. The Dun Cow, which will be part of our managed Head of Steam brand, will offer over eight traditional hand pulled cask ales and ciders from local and national brewers, as well as also having eight rotating craft keg fonts.
“Being next door to the Empire, we will provide theatre goers with a fantastic selection of great food and drink offers”.
Paul Callaghan, MAC Trust board member, said: “The MAC Trust sees Camerons and the Head of Steam brand as the perfect partner in the redevelopment. This brings a vibrant, quality offering to the Dun Cow and really sets a very high standard for what we hope to achieve with the MACQ.”
