Ei Publican Partnerships recruits young licensees for Hampshire pub opening

By Michelle Perrett

- Last updated on GMT

Eldon Arms duo: (L-R) - Andy Hobbs and Sean Barnes
Eldon Arms duo: (L-R) - Andy Hobbs and Sean Barnes
Ei Publican Partnerships has recruited two young licensees to run their first pub – the Eldon Arms in Southsea, Portsmouth.

The pub has been reopened by childhood friends Alexander Handley, Sean Barnes (24) and Andy Hobbs (25), after a £120,000 investment.

It was officially opened with a launch event on 12 April with Deputy Lord Mayor Lee Mason and local MP Stephen Morgan in attendance.

The pub has a fully restored interior, including new furniture, a custom-made bar and a total kitchen refit. It will show key sporting events through Sky and BT Sports, including the upcoming World Cup and has also introduced retro pinball machines.

Dream

Barnes said: “It has always been mine and Andy’s dream to run our own business, so we’re thrilled to be able to take on this exciting opportunity in our hometown.

“We know this city through and through, having lived here all our lives and have seen what does and doesn’t work – we hope to use that, as well as our age to our advantage by ensuring the pub appeals to students who enjoy sport, great food and a quality beer.”

They pub has introduced Ei Group’s Barrel Top pizza concept and Beerista coffee offer to appeal to the local community and the students of Portsmouth University. 

Invested

“We’ve invested in a number of resources to support our publicans and help them build their businesses. With the tools we offer, we can help publicans like Andy and Sean, who don’t necessarily have previous experience running a pub, but have excellent knowledge of the local area and the passion to be successful,” Ei Publican Partnerships regional manager Paul Gill said.

“It’s really important to us that we give young people opportunities in the hospitality industry, so when Sean and Andy expressed their interest in the site, we knew they would be perfect for the job and were delighted to give them a helping hand by investing in their dream.”

To find out more about pubs for sale, lease and tenancy visit our property site​.

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