Leisure boss Hemmings swoops for Brannigans
Leisure entrepreneur Trevor Hemmings has pipped niche operator Vodka Bar Management (VBM) in the race for the Brannigans chain of bars.
Mr Hemmings, who once owned the Center Parcs holiday business, has acquired 15 sites for an undisclosed sum.
The deal will see Brannigans become the latest piece in a jigsaw of various leisure businesses owned by the Hemmings family.
It owns large chunks of entertainment assets in Blackpool, including the Blackpool Tower, under the company name Leisure Parcs.
It also has interests in the Pub Estate Company, Pontin's Holidays, Crown Leisure and a string of other leisure groups.
Bank of Scotland have acquired a 15 per cent stake in the new venture, which has been called Brannigans Limited.
The new owners beat off a rival bid from VBM, which operates a number of brands including Babushka. VBM had offered between £16m and £20m for the entire 20-strong Brannigans portfolio. It had lined up Karen Forrester of Laurel as non-executive chairman.
The Brannigans bars were put up for sale following the collapse of parent group Mustard Entertainment. Mustard was formed through a management buy-out of Brannigans from First Leisure for £70m.
The bars were placed with receivers after banks called time on Mustard's spiralling debts.
Mr Hemmings has put in place an executive management team comprising David Burns, 46, a former director at Airtours, Marc Etches, 43, managing director of Leisure Parcs and George Edwards, 40, formerly of Pub Estate Company
Mr Burns said: "We plan to retain and grow the Brannigans business on the back of its successful entertainment name. We will seek to enhance the eating, dancing and cavorting experience."
The 15 sites are located in: Birmingham, Blackpool, Bristol, Chester, Crawley, Ipswich, Luton, Manchester, Norwich, Reading, Romford, Sheffield, Southampton, Stockport and Warrington.
It is not clear what will happen with the five remaining sites, one of which, in Croydon, Surrey, has been closed and boarded up.
Related articles:
Mustard bar group is Branni-gone (20 November 2002)
