South Yorks pub rescue company

Two South Yorkshire trade stalwarts have joined forces to launch a new company aimed at reviving the fortunes of pubs threatened with closure.

Barnsley hosts Dennis Griffiths and Alan Jane say their company, A&D Pub Services, aims to trade up under-performing venues and make them into viable units.

The company hopes to train pub managers as possible future tenants, once the businesses reach viable levels. Griffiths and Jane, both executive committee members of the Federation of Licensed Victuallers Associations (FLVA), have a combined experience of 65 years running pubs.

FLVA president Griffiths said the idea was to offer pub companies an alternative to normal relief management.

"We were approached by area managers from two pub companies to help them keep their struggling pubs open. It's designed to offer managers a cheaper entry into the tenancy market if they show they have the skills to run their own business.

"It's a far more attractive way than simply employing a relief agency whose main job is just to keep a pub open," Griffiths explained.

The company currently runs five houses in the Barnsley area, which are owned by Punch and Scottish & Newcastle Pub Enterprises.

"We've been doing this for six months now and all the signs are good. Once we feel a pub is trading well enough, and the manager can run the business as a tenant, we will go our own way," he added.

He said managers were paid a set wage, but offered a package of support to help turn their pubs around.

Jane, who is FLVA treasurer, already trades as a multiple operator in the Barnsley area, running 10 pubs under the Fact Gold banner.