Enterprise develops managed estate

24-Apr-2016 - Last updated on 25-Apr-2016 at 08:20 GMT

Chief executive Simon Townsend said the move was 'further evidence' of its developing managed estate

Enterprise Inns has announced its third Managed Expert partnership – this time with London-based Food & Fuel, led by former Spirit chief executive and Café Rouge co-founder Karen Jones.

The joint venture with the currently 12-strong Food & Fuel will trade as Frontier Pubs and will work to develop pubs “in and around London”.

Simon Townsend, Enterprise chief executive, said: “This is further evidence of the progress we are making in developing our managed house estate at Enterprise. Karen has a strong track record as one of the most respected operators in the managed pubs sector and we’re very much looking forward to working with her and her team.”

Jones said: “We are delighted to be working alongside Enterprise Inns. We have known Simon and the team at Enterprise for a long time: they are great to work with and we look forward to opening our first business together over the summer.”

Enterprise Inns last month agreed its second Managed Expert partnership with the creation of Mash Inns, a venture with Laine Pub Group. This follows the launch of Hippo Inns, with Rupert Clevely, in October 2015. Hippo currently has two pubs in operation, with the Duke of Sussex near Waterloo Station opening today (25 April), the Black Horse in Kingston opening on 2 May and a further spate of openings planned in the next few months.

Enterprise said it continued to discuss managed partnership opportunities with other pub retailers and expected to make further announcements in the coming months.

Food & Fuel was set up in June 2006 with the acquisition of five sites from Punch. It grew again in 2007 when it acquired Front Page Pubs. The company’s last acquisition was The Grosvenor in Hanwell, in January 2014.

The estate comprises eight gastro pubs, the Sporting Page in Chelsea and three café bars.