Ex-JDW managers lift pubs' fortunes
A pair of former Wetherspoon managers have transformed the fortunes of two West Yorkshire pubs, after crossing the trade divide to become their own bosses.
Host Lee Roberts and his partner Sarah Dinning have more than doubled turnover to close on £20,000 a week at both Enterprise Inns pubs that they took over in October last year.
The duo are now planning to take on a third pub, which they hope to re-open in the autumn in partnership with a local property developer.
Roberts and Dinning formed their own company, Blue Moon Pubs, after deciding to lease the Malthouse at Rishworth, near Halifax, and the Sun Inn at Lightcliffe, near Brighouse.
They invested £300,000 of their own cash in major refurbishments at both venues to maximise the pubs' potential.
"Giving up very well paid jobs with Wetherspoon was a big decision for us, but we were confident we could make a success of our new venture," said Roberts.
"We both felt it was time to move on, so when we saw the two pubs and realised what we could do with them it was an easy decision to make.
"The pubs were trading at a low level, about £7,000 per week, but we managed to turn things around and now turnover at both sites is running at between £15,000 and £20,000."
Both businesses have a 20:80 wet:dry split with the Malthouse also having five letting bedrooms.
"We simply put into practice what we had learned with Wetherspoon, which was a wonderful company to work for, but there is nothing quite like running your own business," added Roberts.
"It's nice to report that amid all the trade doom and gloom some country pubs are performing well and receiving investment."
The couple had run Lloyds bars for Wetherspoon for eight years with Dinning managing sites in her own right.
One of Roberts' pubs was the flagship Lloyds bar in Birmingham, but he also ran venues in Nottingham, St Albans and Durham.
Next October the couple's third pub, the Turnpike at Rishworth Moor, is due to open. The closed site will be re-developed by the couple and its freehold owner.
