New pubco set to launch by trio of industry veterans

By Ed Bedington

- Last updated on GMT

'Eyeing up sites':' We all love pubs and are looking forward to developing Valiant Pub Company and launching the business in 2021,' Gerry Carroll said
'Eyeing up sites':' We all love pubs and are looking forward to developing Valiant Pub Company and launching the business in 2021,' Gerry Carroll said

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Three top operators are set to re-enter the UK pub market with the launch of the Valiant Pub Company.

Gerry Carroll and Mark McGinty, co-founders of Hawthorn and James Croft, former group strategy and retail director at Ei Group, are looking to use their extensive experience to create a new operation, targeting the suburban and community pub sector.

The trio, who previously all worked together at Enterprise Inns and were instrumental in rolling out the company’s Beacon concept, are now keeping an eye for when the market starts to open back up.

Carroll said they are setting the operation up with their own funding, alongside investors, and are engaging with potential others. He said they were “poised and ready to go”, but added timing was key.

“We obviously want an unrestricted market place, we don’t want to be opening up when you can’t have vertical drinking, and you’re stuck with table service and closing at 10pm.”

He added that he felt that post-lockdown, he was confident there would be a bigger appreciation of pubs within their communities.

“We all love pubs and are looking forward to developing Valiant Pub Company and launching the business in 2021.

"We were heartened to see how well pubs bounced back post the first lockdown and believe that once Covid restrictions are lifted the pub sector will be one that recovers quickly.”

In the meantime the business is currently “eyeing up sites as we speak” he added, and said they would look at bigger deals as they come to market.

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