Hook Norton seeks new pub acquisitions and eyes London site

Hook Norton, the Oxfordshire brewer and pub operator, would consider opening a pub in London in a few years, as it homes in on more acquisitions in its heartland.

In May the firm recruited Colliers International to seek pub acquisitions within 50 miles of the brewery.

“We have seen a lot of sites. We’ve got a number we are looking at seriously,” joint managing director Adrian Staley told M&C Report.

He said Hook Norton, which operates 44 pubs, had a “huge response” to its appeal for new outlets, including freehouses and sites owned by major pub groups.

When asked if the firm would consider taking a flagship site in London, Staley said: “I would say a couple of years down the line, yes.”

Staley said there are also plans to roll out new signage across the estate over the next couple of years.