Punch plans to roll out Champs brand

03-Jul-2012 - Last updated on 11-Mar-2017 at 20:21 GMT

Punch Taverns is to examine plans to rollout the Champs US sports bar brand after buying the intellectual rights to the concept that derives from the iconic Sheffield venue, M&C Report has learnt.

The company will look at other major cities in northern England for the brand, plus more sites in Sheffield.

Punch is to open its first Champs Sports Bar & Grill site in Sheffield on the site of a former Punch managed pub. The venue is 100 yards from the original Champs, which is to be converted into a restaurant and bar by its new owner BrewKitchen.

Punch has licensed the Champs name to multiple lessee Danny Grayson. The new Champs will open on 4 August, following a six-figure investment.

Punch senior regional operations director Richard Woodward told M&C Report that the new Champs would be “more premium” than most sports bars.

“We are starting the venture with our partner Danny Grayson on the basis of scaling this and opening more sites. We are thinking this is something we can operate in more towns.”

Woodward said that there could be “one or two more” in Sheffield, with “scope” for sites in locations such as Leeds and Doncaster.