Property round-up: Mark Sargeant's Pickled Egg Pub Company acquires three sites
Mark Sargeant’s Pickled Egg Pub Company adds three sites
The Kent-based Pickled Egg Pub Company has acquired the Five Bells at Brabourne, the Radnor Arms in Folkestone and the Woolpack Inn at Warehorne, from operator Ramblinns.
The growing pub company, owned by Gordon Ramsay protégé and Michelin-starred chef Sargeant and business partner Josh De Haan, already operates the Duke William in Ickham, The Wife Of Bath in Wye, and Folkestone restaurants Rocksalt and The Smokehouse.
“Josh and I have been massive fans of John and Alison’s Ramblinns and when the opportunity arose to buy three of their four sites, we jumped at the chance,” Sargeant told Kent Online.
“We can’t wait to continue their great work at these fantastic pubs and only aim to enhance their excellent reputations.
“All three pubs will continue to trade as normal and we are excited by the opportunity to serve their communities.
“We intend to make some small changes in the new year, particularly to the menus, but for now it’s business as usual.”
Camerons Brewery acquires Bar Soba
North-east-based brewer and pub operator Camerons Brewery has announced the acquisition of five-venue Bar Soba group for an undisclosed sum.
As reported by The Morning Advertiser, the deal will see Camerons add Bar Soba’s sites - three in Glasgow, one in Edinburgh and one in Leeds - to increase its managed pub estate to 34 venues with the help of HSBC, which financed the acquisition.
“This is a deal we have been working on for some time and we are delighted this has now gone through,” said Chris Soley, chief executive at Camerons Brewery.
“We have been extremely impressed by the Bar Soba brand and identified the potential for this group to develop. Growing our retail pub group is one of our key business strategies and we will continue to look to add more venues to our various pub brands.
“We identified an opportunity to add another brand in our portfolio to complement the offers in our The Head of Steam and Urban Country Pubs and we feel the unique food and drinks experience Bar Soba offers gives us an exciting new opportunity to grow our estate further.”
Brakspear grows managed estate to 15 sites
Brakspear’s acquisition of the Golden Ball near Maidenhead in Berkshire sees the brewer and pub operator’s managed estate grow to 15 venues.
Formed in 2013 with the opening of the Bull in Henley-on-Thames, the Oxfordshire-based company’s managed portfolio includes pubs across the Cotswolds and the south-east.
"We're delighted to be adding the Golden Ball to our managed division,” Tom Davies, Brakspear chief executive said. “It's a popular pub serving its local community with a great range of food and drink and we think it has great potential within the Brakspear family.
"We're very happy with the growth of our managed estate, which we started six years ago. While each pub has its own individual character, they also have some shared features that help customers to identify them as a Brakspear managed site, which will encourage them to visit other pubs in the group, knowing they'll experience the same top quality food, drink and customer service."
Punch pours £250,000 into Lancashire pub refurb
The Duke of Rothesay near Heysham in Lancashire has reopened under new operators Angela and Kevin Lavin following a £250,000 Punch-funded revamp.
The Heysham pub’s makeover is part of Punch’s plans to invest £34m in its estate of around 1,300 sites across England, Scotland and Wales.
Experienced publicans Angela and Kevin, who also run a nearby coffee shop, have spent most of the past 20 years running pubs, bars and restaurants in the UK and abroad.
“It’s great to be here at the Duke of Rothesay, the investment has really done the pub proud,” Kevin explained.
“We know this area well and we can’t wait to welcome customers old and new into their new-look pub.
“We have lots of exciting plans to bring great food, drink and a warm welcome to everyone who chooses to spend their time with us.”
Oxfordshire pub reopens after £750,000 joint investment
The renamed Chatsworth pub in Banbury, Oxfordshire, has opened after a £750,000 joint investment by Heineken’s pub arm, Star Pubs & Bars, and the Gamechanger Pub Company.
Formerly wet-led pub the Cock Horse, the revamped, premium local is Gamechanger’s second site with Star and has created 20 new jobs.
“Pubs fail when they’re cash starved and operators don’t have the liquid funds to develop them,” Gamechanger director Clive Coules said.
“I’m a big fan of leased pubs. Our money isn’t tied up in freeholds, so we’ve been able to jointly invest with Star at the Chatsworth to create a top-quality pub with broad appeal.
“It has been a real partnership project – we’ve been involved throughout and able to make tweaks and changes as work progressed.
“The contractors Star used were excellent and the standard of the finish is fantastic.”
Robinsons funds £150,000 facelift for 19th century pub
Stockport-based brewer and pub operator Robinsons Brewery has invested £150,000 in revamping the historic Royal Scot pub in Marple Bridge, Greater Manchester.
Purchased by Robinsons in May 1876, the pub was known as the Railway Inn until a rebuild in the 1930s.
“The Royal Scot is a lovely pub but it was in need of a bit of love,” Colm Sheedy, the Royal Scot’s licensee said. In recent times it had become quite tired and dated, but no longer.
“The quality and level of investment in the décor has revitalised the whole pub. The style feels contemporary, innovative and fresh, somewhere you really want to visit, have a few drinks and just soak up the atmosphere that you only get in a great British pub.
“Thanks to the renovation, the pub is now a lot more spacious. The new bar is stunning and is the perfect spot for customers to relax and enjoy drinks such as continental lagers, craft beers, prosecco, premium spirits and, of course, Robinsons ale.
“We look forward to welcoming customers, old and new, to the newly refurbished Royal Scot.”
Innis & Gunn to put Edinburgh back on the brewing map
Scottish brewer Innis & Gunn launched crowdfunding campaign ‘Beer Money’ on 11 November in the hope of funding Edinburgh’s largest major brewery in 150 years.
The beermaker, which plans to grow its Brewery Taprooms pub concept across the UK at a rate of two new sites each year for the next three years, revealed it was seeking £3m from investors on Seedr to build a new facility and bring more of its operations under one roof.
“At this time of division, doom and gloom, the originality and inclusivity of the Innis & Gunn brand and business is a shining light of optimism that brings people together in celebration of great beer,” Dougal Gunn Sharp, Innis & Gunn’s founder and master brewer said.
“This is the opportunity of a lifetime – to be part of the project to build Edinburgh’s first large-scale brewery in over 150 years.
“By investing in Innis & Gunn Beer Money, you will be helping to create a new legacy for our brand and for brewing in Edinburgh, and Scotland, that will last a lifetime.”
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