Yummy rebrands and sells 'iconic' site

The trio of business partners behind Yummy Pubs – Antony Pender, Tim Foster and Jason Rowlands will pursue separate projects, following their 15-year partnership.

The firm will rebrand to Yummy Collection and Pender will be at the helm as founder, overseeing the Somers Town Coffee House in between London’s St Pancras and Euston, and the Victoria at Mile End, also in the capital.

Yummy Collection’s future plans include rapid expansion with a new site already under offer and investment funds in place for further growth alongside capital expenditure plans for its two existing venues.

Furthermore, Pender is developing his strategy for working with key operational business partners such as venue partner at the Victoria, Matt Ward.

Ward was the first team member to progress from bar to boardroom with Yummy and now owns a stake in the Victoria and will remain a member of the management team.

Looking forward

Pender reflected on his time working with his now former business partners and looked to what lies ahead for the newly rebranding business.

He said: “I have hugely enjoyed working with Tim Foster and Jason Rowlands over the past 15 years but am now looking forward to the future of the Yummy Collection, working with inspirational up and coming talent and expanding our portfolio of venues with new operational business partners.

“Despite the economic channelges, the Wiremill has continued to grow and develop into the hugely successful and iconic site it is today and that is all down to the dedication, hard work and brilliance of the entire team. I know its future will be just as bright as part of the Hall & Woodhouse family.

“Hospitality has always been in my blood and I am so excited for the future of the Yummy Collection, working with bright new talent and building new concepts as we grow and expand an already exceptional business.”

Proactive managing

Hall & Woodhouse property director Mark James said the business was delighted to purchase the Wiremill.

He added: “We continually look to evolve as a business by proactively managing our estate and investing in pubs of the future.

“This purchase is part of these plans, to grow across the south of England by making high quality acquisitions such as the Wiremill, that complement and enhance our existing estate.

“We are exciting for what the future holds for the pub and warmly welcome the team to the Hall & Woodhouse family.”

Christie & Co senior director of pubs and restaurants Neil Morgan outlined how he has worked with Yummy for more than a decade.

“It has been a privilege to work with the team for the past 15 years, advising them along the way and helping them to realise their ongoing strategy, culminating in acting on their behalf on the sale of their trophy asset, the Wiremill,” he said.

“We look forward to working with Anthony in the future as he takes the helm of Yummy Collection.”