This came as the group shared plans to open 20 sites a year in a recent trading update alongside positive festive trading.
Brooke told The Morning Advertiser: “We do on average between 15 and 18 conversions a year. We are looking to do 20 this year but are in a position to do more.
“We’re disciplined about where we look, trying to make sure we join the dots to ensure the operational support is in place so we aren’t stretching ourselves too far.
“We’re quite northern-centric but venturing across the border into the south.
“This is really exciting as it demonstrates our model is transferable.”
Growth plans
While the group already has sites in locations such as Gosport, Bridgwater and Taunton, it is eyeing the south-east, Brooke said.
“A well-invested pub in a great location with competitive prices and highly engaged operators that focuses on customer experience tends to do well,” he added.
“We can go faster and intend to do so. We need to bring competitive pricing to the south.
“We know what works. We have 188 sites but actually there are so many towns and cities for us to go to that we’re not currently in, there’s plenty of room for us to grow.”
Site criteria
While there’s no ‘magic number’ in terms of the size of Amber’s estate, Brooke highlighted how each site has to benefit the business.
He said: “We’re well-funded, our investors are really supportive and made sure we have the funds available to grow.
“We’re not working to a number. Once you pass that threshold that allows you have a structure to service the pubs correctly, it’s really about opportunity.
“It’s not about a number, it’s about each one coming in, looking at it and asking is it going to improve our business?”
