McMullen grows grill chain

Hertfordshire-based brewer and pub operator McMullen has revealed plans to convert three more managed outlets to its Chicken & Grill concept this year.

The company also revealed that it wants to add four or five freehold sites to its managed estate each year.

The news came as Mc-Mullen unveiled a £300,000 investment at a pub in Windsor, Berkshire, renamed the Duchess of Cambridge after Kate Middleton.

McMullen currently operates two Chicken & Grill sites, the Nag's Head in Bishop's Stortford and the Bull's Head in Turnford, both in Hertfordshire.

The next conversion is to take place at the Plough in Cuffley, also in the county, with a further two conversions planned elsewhere.

Chicken & Grill offers pub favourites, specialising in chicken dishes such as

rotisserie chicken, at reasonable prices.

There is a separate menu for lunch and dinner. Another development will be at a converted department store in Bishop's Stortford, which is to open before Christmas as a Baroosh, McMullen's high-street café-bar concept.

A site for another Baroosh in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, has been secured and is due to open next year.

A final conversion this year, at an unnamed pub, will be to McMullen's upmarket Destination concept.

The company is planning to buy four or five freehold sites for its managed estate per year.

Managing director Peter Furness-Smith said: "We have been trying to get as many prime sites as we can for retail; we won't buy tenanted pubs.

"It makes it more difficult but we like a challenge."

The 1,600sq ft Duchess of Cambridge pub, which opens to the public this week, will have 100 seats in the restaurant and bar area and will feature historic company artefacts dating back to the early 19th century, including an original pub price list.

It will employ 30 full and part-time staff.