Gareth Bale signs 15-year bar deal, new NWTC concept, Inn Collection Group grows again

Gareth Bale pens 15-year deal for Elevens Bar & Grill

Ahead of its reopening, Champions League winning footballer Gareth Bale has signed a new 15-year lease for his Cardiff city centre venue, Elevens Bar & Grill. 

Elevens opened in May 2017 following an extensive redevelopment of the S.A Brain-owned venue on Castle Street – a new partnership between the brewery and the newly formed Elevens Group.

In December 2020, S.A. Brain announced that contracts had been exchanged with Marston’s plc. to operate its portfolio of pubs in Wales. As a result of these operational changes, Elevens has now become a fully independent venture, co-owned by Wales and Tottenham star Gareth Bale and his business partner Jamie Humphrys, with S.A Brain as landlords.

“In a few short years we managed to create something special and unique with Brains; a premium sports bar and grill in the heart of Cardiff,” Bale said. “We really enjoyed working with them, but it’s time to look ahead, and it’s exciting to be taking Elevens forward as an independent venue.”

S.A. Brain CEO Jon Bridge added: “We are excited to continue the relationship with Gareth, Jamie and the team and are looking forward to still enjoying a great pint of Brains beer and supporting this next exciting chapter for Elevens.”

NWTC to debut new concept in Sheffield

Inspired by the Steel city’s industrial heritage, the New World Trading Company (NWTC) will launch the new brand Furnace in Sheffield’s Heart of the City scheme this summer, according to reports by MCA Insight​.

It is the first new concept from the multi-brand operator under the leadership of CEO Jesper Friis.

Part of a major £470m regeneration scheme from Queensberry, it is the operator’s second site in Sheffield for and follows NWTC’s opening of restaurant-bar the Club House in Plymouth in April. 

“The creation of a new brand is always incredibly exciting – and the feeling of launching it to market never tires,” NWTC chief operating officer Natasha Waterfield said.  

“Our new team have worked incredibly hard to balance the creation of a new brand while navigating lockdown and reopening our existing estate.  

“I can’t wait to share more about our new brand in the coming weeks.”

Cadogan Arms announces relaunch with JKS investment and James Knappett 

July 2021 will see the re-opening of London pub the Cadogan Arms in Chelsea following an ambitious renovation paying homage to two centuries serving its local community.

The project has been led by Dominic Jacobs of the Running Horse in Mayfair having raised capital from private investors including Jyotin, Karam and Sunaina Sethi – the founders of JKS Restaurants. 

James Knappett of two Michelin-star Kitchen Table in London’s Fitzrovia, will oversee the menu as culinary director drawing inspiration from his experience of growing up in pubs.  

“Dating back to the 1700’s, the Cadogan Arms is one of Chelsea’s most enduring public houses,” Jacobs says. 

“The team are excited to once again be able to open the doors to the local community and deliver a gold standard public house experience that honours the rich history of the venue.”

Arc Inspiration expands sports bar concept

Leeds-based sports bar brand, Box, is set to open its doors at a 2,000 sq ft venue in Chapel Allerton, West Yorkshire, on 17 May, following the success of its flagship venue.  

'We opened the terrace on 12 April, and it is already proving to be extremely popular with the locals,” CEO of Arc Inspirations, Martin Wolstencroft, said. 

“The entire venue will open on 17 May in line with the easing of lockdown restrictions and we are super excited to be adding this unit to our portfolio.  

“It's a great opportunity to provide a fun and relaxed environment for people with a shared passion for sport, socialising, great food and drink.”

Hawthorn invests £275k in Liverpool community pub

The Brown Cow Inn in Gateacre, Liverpool, has reopened following a £275,000 investment from national pub operator Hawthorn.

The listed building has undergone an extensive renovation, with fresh fittings, an updated bar area, brand-new toilets, and refreshed external décor, including stained glass windows in keeping with the building’s heritage. 

The pub will also benefit from the significant creation of a large new beer garden on a previously unused piece of land, with space for 200 guests, including 60 covered seats. 

The site will be run by husband-and-wife team, Andy and Marie Colvin. 

“We couldn’t be more excited to welcome back the locals that we know have missed this Liverpool gem,” Andy said. “Hawthorn is a great company to work with and we’d like to thank them for their support in transforming our pub into what it is now. 

“After successfully running another Hawthorn pub in Bolton, we know that the Brown Cow Inn is the perfect fit for us, and we’re looking forward to being part of the community in Gateacre and welcoming guests both new and old to come and enjoy the brand-new Brown Cow.”

Beer & Coffee Co eye up to ten pug-branded pubs

Warwickshire-based pub operators Beer & Coffee Co are opening their fourth leased pub with Star Pubs & Bars following a £160,000 refurbishment. 

The investment at the White Horse in Shipston on Stour will see the site join Beer & Coffee Co’s pug brand and has been renamed the Lazy Pug to mark its new direction. 

Beer & Coffee Co.’s other venues include the Black Pug in Warwick and the Fat Pug, the Royal Pug and Procaffeinate coffee shop in Leamington Spa. 

The company is looking to expand further with Star Pubs & Bars, with a view to building a group of up to ten pug-branded pubs in the West Midlands. 

“Leased pubs work best for us, as they’re the quickest way to expand,” Matt Crowther, co-founder of Beer & Coffee Co said. “We’ve built up a loyal local following for Pug Pubs and, with four sites, we’ve now got a strong structure and team in place from which to grow further.

“We enjoy working with Star – they’re innovative, keen to invest and flexible about adapting to suit our business model.”

 ‘Oldest pub in Leeds’ to reopen after six-and-a-half-month closure

First licensed in 1715, Whitelock’s – which claims to be Leeds’ oldest pub – is poised to reopen on 17 May in line with the easing of Government restrictions following an extensive refurbishment of its outdoor beer garden. 

“We have been closed since October, and this is the first time in the pub’s 300-years that we’ve been shut for so long,” Whitelock’s owner, Ed Mason, said. 

“It’s been a tough few months for everyone, and we thought what better way to re-open than with a celebration of all that is great about the region’s independent drinks businesses."

The Grade II Listed venue claims to have been the first pub in Leeds to install electricity. 

Prime Lake District site swells Inn Collection estate to 22 sites 

The Inn Collection Group has continued its Lake District expansion by purchasing a fourth site in Ambleside, Cumbria – the Waterhead Hotel – and growing its estate to 22 sites in the process.

The 38-bedroom venue has direct shoreline access and private grounds bordering Windermere lake and will reopen as the Waterhead Inn on 17 May before a planned refurbishment in 2022. 

“We are thrilled to have completed on the Waterhead and to be bringing another extraordinary site into the group as we prepare for the expected staycation boom amid surging consumer demand for UK leisure destinations,” the Inn Collection Group’s managing director Sean Donkin said.  

“It was our strategic vision as a group to more than double our freehold estate to 22 sites in 2021 and despite the intense challenges of the global pandemic, we have had our finger on the pulse to accelerate growth and realise our ‘buy and build’ expansion strategy. 

“We are continuing to expand at pace and have organised ourselves internally to deal with greater than anticipated expansion. It’s a phenomenal achievement and a real credit to our team, our investors and our associates.

“The Waterhead has long been in our sights and we are excited to bring this remarkable venue and its team into the Inn Collection Group family,” he added. 

“Our customers are looking for experience-led stays and The Waterhead delivers on everything we look for in a site – a distinctive USP and an attractive environment in a winning destination where our guests want to spend their well-earned leisure time to eat, drink and stay with us.”

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