Volante is picked to run Yellowhammer

A four-strong management company has been appointed to run late-night operator Yellowhammer Bars.

Volante Management has been awarded a contract to run the company by Yellowhammer's owner, the private-equity outfit Agilo — former chief executive James Spragg left last week.

The four key members of the new Volante team are: Carl Anderson, a former Luminar and CanDu Entertainment executive, who becomes managing director (he has been working for Yellowhammer as operations director); Nigel Blair, who is Yellowhammer's new commercial director (he has experience in the nightclub sector with Allied Domecq, First Leisure and CanDu Entertainment and still runs some of his own nightclub venues); Craig Grant, the former Luminar strategy director who was involved in the CanDu Entertainment management buy-out by Luminar executives, is chief operating officer and Derek Parfitt, the fourth member of the team, is the company's chairman.

Blair said: "The business has a stable platform and there are more opportunities there.

"Agilo has already invested heavily in this business and naturally wants a return — but its view is to never say never (to other acquisitions)."

Yellowhammer is made up of three major Agilo acquisitions — the CanDu Entertainment buy-out, Future 3000 and the four-strong Sports Cafe business.

Parfitt, appointed Yellowhammer chairman last November, has previously held directorships with Morrells, Greene King and the Magic Pub Company.

Last month it was revealed that 25-strong Yellowhammer had opened its sixth site branded as Bliss Bar & Clubroom.

The new opening was a former Sports Cafe venue already operated by Yellowhammer in Broad Street, Birmingham.