Speaking to The Morning Advertiser (MA), Valiant co-founders, executive chairman Gerry Carroll and chief executive Mark McGinty, outlined plans to accelerate expansion following the acquisition of two pubs in October.
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The group acquired the Ash in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, on 26 October and the Talbot Arms in Settle, North Yorkshire, the following day, bringing its estate to approximately 105 sites.
Carroll said: “Our pipeline’s amazingly strong at the moment.”
He confirmed more than 10 additional sites were progressing through legal proceedings, with the first quarter of 2027 expected to be among the group’s busiest periods for acquisitions.
Valiant is targeting around 20 acquisitions for the year, although Carroll said the final number would depend on the size and investment requirements of individual sites.
Average investment is currently around £1.2m per acquisition, with larger opportunities requiring between £1.8m and £2m.
Investment plans
Both newly acquired pubs are set to receive investment, with the Ash undergoing changes to broaden its predominantly food-led offer and strengthen its position as a community pub.
Meanwhile, the Talbot Arms will undergo a more substantial refurbishment, including improvements to its interior and a redesigned beer garden, with outdoor works planned for Spring 2027 ahead of warmer weather and a busy Easter trading period.
McGinty said Valiant was primarily targeting established pubs with strong trading potential that had struggled to generate sufficient profits for reinvestment.
The group is also looking to increase its presence in areas where it already operates, particularly across the Midlands, northern England, Wales, Devon and Somerset, rather than expanding into London or the South East.
“The pub for us is the hero and we want to add something back to a community,” McGinty said.
Strong trading
The expansion plans follow Valiant’s latest financial results, which showed revenue increasing 45% to £42.9m in the year to 29 March 2026, alongside a 56% rise in pub-level EBITDA to £8.6m.
McGinty said trading had continued to strengthen, with like-for-like sales increasing 8% in the most recent week and 7% the week before.
The business, which now operates more than 200 bedrooms across its estate, also expects accommodation and food-led pubs to remain central to its acquisition strategy.
Carroll added that rising employment costs and pressure on independent operators were creating acquisition opportunities for businesses with access to capital.
He said: “Pubs are still a great space to invest in.”
