Blind Tiger expands leased estate to 18 sites
The north-west company has taken on the Station in Preston, the Victoria in Aigburth and the Park View in Burnley.
It now holds 17 leases with Star and is set to take on a £450,000 joint investment programme across five pubs with the pub owner.
Stalwart sites the Queens Arms in Aintree and the Halfway House in Runcorn will also receive £50,000 each to revamp their facilities.
The three new sites will receive a total of £350,000 for refurbishments that will improve their sports and entertainment offers. New outside areas will also be created.
These pubs will be wet-led, which Blind Tiger managing director Chris Tulloch said was a popular option across the board.
Buoyant market
He said: “It’s a buoyant market if you provide a great environment and experience. People tend to think of wet-led pubs as male-dominated, but we’re seeing a big increase in the percentage of female customers.
“Customers want to see investment in their surroundings, so it feels special when they go out.
“The joint refurbishment opportunities provided by leased pubs are a major part of their attraction, and our good relationship with Star is one of the reasons we continue to take new leases with them.
“There’s a strong mutual trust, and we’re given the flexibility to use our own contractors. Plus their choice of brands works perfectly for our business model.”
Consummate professionals
Tulloch said the company would be working on its growth and developing customer loyalty programmes in the months ahead, when interviewed by The Morning Advertiser earlier this month.
Star Pubs & Bars operations director for the north-west David Pritchard added: “Blind Tiger Inns are consummate professionals who know their market inside out and exactly what their customers want.
“We’re pleased to provide the investment backing as well as the product range and insight they need to create more successful sites.”
