Ex-Enterprise BDM forms Tudor Inns

A former Enterprise business development manager (BDM) has left the company to run his own pub company.

Phil Warne was previously a tenant with Greene King Pub Partners before joining Enterprise Inns in 2007 as a BDM. He left the pubco four months ago to form Tudor Inns with business partner Paul Withers-Green.

Tudor currently has five managed sites across Kent, including three Enterprise leases and two freeholds, and is hoping to expand to a chain of 10.

"I am a poacher turned gamekeeper turned poacher," said Warne. "I had a great time and relationship with Enterprise and enjoyed working there but at the end of the day I didn't want to stand still and I felt my career path was blocked at Enterprise.

"That's not to say I wouldn't go back in to the corporate side at some point, but I am enjoying running pubs again."

One of its pubs, the Swan Inn in Wittersham, has a reputation for quality beer, with seven ales on handpull, and was named regional CAMRA pub of the year in 2007. "The pubs are about simple good country food with good beer and wine," he said.

Warne reports trading is good except for at one site — the Swan in Sutton Valence. "We have struggled there but Enterprise has helped us out," he said.

Executive chef called Phil Camilleri oversees the catering operations and trains all chefs across the company.

Its five sites are the Swan in Wittersham, Ferry Inn in Stone, Queen's Head in Sedlescombe, Swan in Sutton Valence and the Blacksmiths in Willesborough.