EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

'Good timing' for St Austell takeover of Bath Pub Co

12-Sep-2023 - Last updated on 12-Sep-2023 at 09:15 GMT

Good timing: Bath Pub Company co-founder Joe Cussens (pictured) told the MA he was looking forward to doing something different following St Austell acquirement

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After a “tumultuous few years’” in the sector, managing director and co-founder of the Bath Pub Company, Joe Cussens, told The Morning Advertiser (MA) it was time for a “new chapter” for both him and the business.

St Austell Brewery procured the company earlier this week for an undisclosed sum in a deal that will see the Cornwall-based firm take over four sites from Bath Pub Company, growing its 184-strong West Country pub estate.

Cussens said both he and his business partner Justin Sleath, who will be staying on to operate one of the pubs included in the deal, felt it was “time for a new chapter” but were “very proud” of what they had “managed to build”.

“It's no secret it's been a quite a tumultuous few years’ for the pub industry and we haven't been immune to all those challenges.

Something different

“At the beginning of last year, we felt it was time to look at exiting and moving on to do something different.

“We’ve known the people from St. Austell for quite some time and thought they would be an ideal company to take what we've done to the next level, we've been able to put together a deal that works for them and works for us, so we're really pleased.

“I’m delighted with what we've managed to build but I want to go and do something different. It's not a distressed sell”, he continued.

Cussens, who together with Sleath founded the Bath Pub Company some 17 years ago, added St Austell shared a lot of the firms’ “values” and while there are “always challenges” in the sector, brighter times were ahead.

Very positive

“It’s good timing for St. Austell to take over the pubs. They've got the size and the know how to take what we've done and to build on it. I feel very positive about the future for the staff there”, he said.

As for what’s next for the managing director, he explained he had no “firm plans” about anything right now but was looking to do something “completely different”.

Cussens said: “I'm going to do something completely different. I'm not quite sure what's going to be but I'm going to put my feet up for a few weeks and spend some time with the kids and then see what the future holds.

“I have no firm plans to work in hospitality for the immediate future, but I have no firm plans about anything right now.”