Stonegate plans Popworld brand rollout

Stonegate Pub Company, the managed operator, plans to operate an estate of up to nine sites under its Popworld brand by the summer.

The group, which picked up two Popworld sites Liverpool and Newcastle as part of the 333 wet-led pubs it acquired from M&B, has since opened further sites in Portsmouth, Southampton, with a fifth set to open in Swansea on 1 March.

Toby Smith, chief executive, told M&C Report that the Flares in Birmingham would be next conversion for the brand, while the original site in Liverpool was due a refurbishment.

He said: “Popworld is a broader concept, which appeals to a wide range of ages and groups Popworld. The bar aims to celebrate pop music that everyone knows and can sing along to. We are happy with the first couple that we have done on top of the original two we acquired and would hope to have a few more opened by the summer.

“We are set to refurbish the site in Liverpool, which is extremely popular. This will include the addition of a new sound and lighting system complete with an 8ft by 6ft LED wall.”