Andrew White and Michael Bray took on their first Star Pubs lease in Newcastle last summer. City centre bar Fleet Street was previously boarded up for nine years and now offers live sport and entertainment.
There are similar plans for the George Stephenson in West Moor, Newcastle, which the entrepreneurs have been operating on a temporary basis for the past three months, including enhancing its sports and live entertainment.
Star and the duo are set to invest £205,000 in upgrading the George Stephenson, which will include new decoration and furniture throughout alongside a pool table and darts board as well as five high-definition TVs showing live sports on Sky and TNT Sports with a new sound and entertainment system.
The new look will also feature upgraded toilets and the installation of a commercial kitchen, which will offer pub classic dishes.
Outside, the George Stephenson will have a makeover featuring new garden furniture and parasols.
Business portfolio
As well as pubs, the duo also run a design and digital marketing agency - Capital 4 Training, offering construction apprenticeships as well as Empentis, which offers marketing and heavy goods vehicle apprenticeships.
Empentis also owns a vocational English school in Cambodia, which targets the tourism and hospitality sector.
Andrew White said: “We are invested in growing our hospitality business to include more community pubs and city centre bars in the north east if the right opportunities come along.
“Our design agency fits well with hospitality as does our training in multichannel marketing.
“There’s even crossover with our Cambodia operation where there is significant investment in new hospitality venues and consequent requirement for training.
“Students in Cambodia are given the opportunity to talk to our UK staff including our manager or chef.”
Venue profiles
He added: “We’re also in the process of setting up a production company to offer sports podcasts with big social media influencers for our Fleet Street bar and the George Stevenson pub.
“They raise the profile of our venues and add a bit of theatre and atmosphere, giving fans reasons to visit.”
Star Pubs business development manager Tammy Molson outlined her hopes for the pub, based on the duo’s previous experience.
She said: “Andrew and Michael have done a great job with Fleet Street, where the atmosphere is buzzing.
“I am confident they will weave their magic at the George Stephenson too. They have a clear vision for the pub and the added benefit of extensive in-house marketing and training expertise.
“There is also new housing being built nearby, which will boost business further.”
Earlier this month (October), The Morning Advertiser looked at the operators who have expanded through Star Pubs’ leased models.
