M&B opens 150th Sizzling site

Managed house operator Mitchells & Butlers has opened its 150th Sizzling Pub Co site ­ just three years after the brand was created.

The company plans to open another 100 in the next two years, with an average investment per site of between £100,000 and £150,000.

The landmark 150th opening was reached at the White Hart in Arnold, Nottingham.

Sue Walsh, director and general manager for Sizzling Pub Co, said: "Sizzling Pub Co's success lies in its broad appeal and its flexibility to combine traditional, local values with modern customer requirements.

"We have successfully balanced a high-quality, value food and drink offering, in comfortable, up-to-date surroundings to create the best local pub in the area.

Walsh added that Sizzling Pub Co pubs were local drinking pubs that offered a variety of traditional pub activities and served a range of value-for-money meals ­ some in the distinctive "sizzling skillets" that gave the chain its name ­ in different portion sizes, to suit all appetites.

"The menu offers a wide choice of dishes, allowing customers to choose traditional pub food or something more exotic, depending on the dining occasion," said Walsh.

"Internally, zoning and a choice of seating help to create areas where customers can dine, drink or socialise in comfort, depending on the purpose of their visit."

Walsh said activities such as quiz nights, darts, pool and community-focused events form-ed the backdrop to the pubs' entertainment "We continually carry out research with our guests, to ensure that ours is the best local pub offering in the market.

"As a result, we have created a great local pub for drinkers and diners, both male and female, young and old, without alienating the traditional local's regular customer," she said.