Yorkshire Pub Stuff takes on sixth Star lease

The Major Oak pub in Arnold, Nottinghamshire, will benefit from a £325,000 joint investment from the firms, the first joint refurbishment for the duo, and has been signed under a five-year lease.

Yorkshire Pub Stuff director Garry Astle explained while the pubco has been in the site for the last two years, the joint venture with Star, which brings the pubco’s estate to 32 sites, will help give the Major Oak a “new lease of life”.

The pub will be closed for five-weeks from Monday 7 August as work to completely refurbish and renovate the site, which Astle stated had not had any improvements made to it since the 1970’s, takes place.

“It’s clean, but it's all so tired, the seatings are ripped, the toilets are a bit of a state and the carpets are worn because it has had so much footfall over the years. When you go out with your family, you don't want to be sitting in that environment.

“The refurb will revitalise [the pub and] the area because it will be a nice place for everybody to come to”, Astle continued.

In addition to a contemporary décor, a new function room and a Sky Sports package, Yorkshire Pub Stuff have also planned to launch a variety of regular new events at the pub, including live music, quiz nights, mother and toddler groups, bingo and karaoke.

Family orientated 

The Major Oak, which was previously wet led, will also benefit from the introduction of a food menu consisting of “traditional pub food” alongside a refresh of its drinks offering to give the community a “focal point and somewhere to meet”.

Astle added the company bases its business model on community pubs and stressed the importance of pubco’s investing into sites like this as consumers look for more “experiential” venues as the industry becomes more “family orientated”.

He continued: “We’ll be doing a lot of work with social groups in and around the area to join people and get them out of their house and into our pub.

“We've also put in a climbing frame and bouncy castle outside so the pub is accommodating for everyone because of the pub’s layout.

“You've got the back room which is a sports bar with the pool table and darts, we’ve got the lounge bar where people will come and dine, then we’ve got the function room which will be offering all different services.

“Nowadays, you have to give people value for money in a nice environment and a reason to come to the pub.”

Team project 

The director also explained diversifying “helps with footfall and turnover”, adding joining forces with bigger pubco’s such as Star offers a variety of benefits to smaller multi-site operators.

He continued: “Being able to split the job has taken some of the pressure off.

“Before, we’d have to do everything with the develops and designers, but this it’s been a bit of a team project.

“[It’s given us] more backing and enabled us to halve our workload to get the site open quicker.”

Yorkshire Pub Stuff added it has planned to further expand across the Midlands, looking at leased pubs on both temporary and long-term agreements.

Star Pubs & Bars investment manager Mike Smith said: “Yorkshire Pub Stuff has an excellent track record for turning round underperforming pubs. We’re delighted to be investing with them to unlock the potential of the Major Oak.”

Inn Collection site reopens after multi-million-pound refurb

The Waterhead Inn, in Ambleside, Cumbria, has welcomed customers back following completion of "extensive" multi-million-pound renovations.

Newcastle-based pub with rooms operator, Inn Collection Group​, began work on the pub in October last year, adding more bedrooms to the site as well as a total revamp of the venue's bar and restaurant facilities.

Work has also been carried out to extend the outdoor terraced areas.

The site has been refurbished with a traditional country inn in mind, while the new food offering includes steak Halibut, Sea Bream and other pub favourites. 

General manager Daryl Hardy said: “There has been a phenomenal amount of work put in over the last nine months which people will see from the moment they come through our doors.  It is a real credit to everyone who has worked on the project.

 “The transformation from what was a very traditional hotel style into a warm and welcoming inn has created something very special and I can’t wait to see and hear people’s reactions when they see it in person.”

Admiral Taverns reveal new £210k look for Braintree pub

An Admiral Taverns​ pub in Braintree, Essex, reopened its doors last week (Friday 28 July) after an investment of £210,000.

The Nags Head, which is part of the firms Proper Pubs division, has benefitted from new fixtures, fittings and flooring throughout as well as updated signage.

As well as an updated drinks menu, the wet-led site will host regular entertainment including karaoke, quiz nights and live music.

Proper Pubs operations director Matthew Gurney said: “The refurbishment at the Nags Head looks fantastic – the team has worked really hard to ensure it is a success for the local community.  

"On behalf of the Proper Pubs team, we would like to wish the pub's operator, Louise Crosbie, and the whole team every success for the future in making the venue a fantastic hub of the community”. 

Hydes Brewery reopens Wrexham pub

The Stanton House in Chirck, Wrexham has reopened following a complete interior refurbishment, including updated furniture and newly configured bar areas.

A full refresh of the pub's exterior has also been completed while retaining the pub's character.

The pubco said this latest refurbishment was part of an ongoing "multi-million-pound" investment into into its estate over the next few years, after ploughing £4.5m into its pubs throughout 2022.

Hydes Brewery managing director Adam Mayers said: “It’s great to see the Stanton House reopen again with a refreshed look and feel, just in time for the busy summer holiday season.

“As a very popular pub that plays an important role in the local community, we’re confident that customers old and new are going to enjoy this newly refurbished venue"

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