Frederic Robinson to develop managed estate
It is understood that the c.340-strong company has identified three pubs for conversion this year, with the first expected to be in operation by September.
In total, Robinsons believes 30 of its pubs are ripe for conversion to managed, and these will transfer on the expiry of current tenancies.
Oliver Robinson, the company’s managing director for its beer division, told the PMA's sister title M&C Report that where existing tenants are keen to renew their agreements they will have first refusal on the sites.
Modernisation
Robinsons has already written to all its tenants explaining its ambitions for a managed pub estate, and how that might affect them.
Last year, the group said it was on course to spend £3.5m on pub refurbishments and had already committed to the same level of investment for 2014.
It had also started to segment its pub estate into six trading styles as part of a modernisation programme under new operations director Dave Harrison.
Robinsons is the latest tenanted operator to eye a return to the managed sector.
Last month M&C Report revealed that Charles Wells is to launch a new pilot site in Cambridge, at the Salisbury Arm, under the umbrella Seadog Inns.
The company exited managed pub operations seven years ago. Charles Wells chairman Paul Wells said that the firm had “established our managed house credentials again” through its John Bull Pub Company managed estate in France.
