Thwaites to spend £1m on 40 pubs

Daniel Thwaites, the Lancashire brewer and pub operator, is to increase investments in its estate over the next 12 months, with a £1m spend planned at 40 pubs.

Under a scheme called Fab 5, the company has identified 40 pubs for investments, five from each of its eight area business manager patches.

Thwaites spent c.£800,000 in the year to March 2012 on investments under its Project 11 scheme, which focused on sites in areas of high pub density. The company said the investments led to a 25% volume increase at the sites in the quarter ending January 2012.

Director of pub operations Andrew Buchanan said that like Project 11, Fab 5 will also focus on ensuring the core wet-led pubs will be the best in the area, but the firm will work closer with tenants to ensure the changes are bespoke for each pub.

“That could well be capital to restore the fabric of the pub both internally and externally, but also the food offer, regular weekly activity, product range, merchandising, and retail price points are all in line and the pub delivers for the local customer.”