Brakspear pumps £2m into two L&T sites

13-Oct-2023 - Last updated on 13-Oct-2023 at 08:42 GMT

Company investment: Brakspear chief executive Tom Davies (far right) with Manu Bhatt (third from right) and Richard Brown (far left) of Little & Large Pub Company and team members from the Running Horses

South east-based multiple operator Brakspear is investing £2m into two of its leased and tenanted sites after signing agreements with growing pub groups Little & Large and Friendship and Beer.

The Leicester Arms in Penshurst, Kent is the second Brakspear pub signed by Little & Large Pub Company, joining the Running Horses near Dorking in Surrey last year.

Brakspear is conducting a major refurbishment of the Kent pub later this month (October) with reopening planned for earlier 2024.

Fellow Surrey pub the White Bear in Warlingham was taken on by Friendship and Beer during the summer.

It is currently being refurbished to create a more open space for drinking and dining, with its doors reopening at the end of October.

Serious investment

Brakspear chief executive Tom Davies said: “This is a serious investment in our leased and tenanted estate and an indicator of the potential we see in these pubs and the value we place on our partnerships with our tenants.

“We have many stunning pubs in beautiful locations across the south east and the Leicester Arms and White Bear are fine examples but they are only ever as good as the tenants who run them.

“Working with talented operators is key to our success and we are delighted to welcome Friendship and Beer and to extend our relationship with Little & Large to a second pub.”

A turnover tenancy worked well for Little & Large at its Surrey site – the Running Horses in Mickleham, Dorking, according to company co-founder Manu Bhatt.

Fair way

He added: “Initially it gave us time to find our feet and as sales have grown, so has our rent to Brakspear.

“It’s a fair way of doing business and we are pleased to have the same agreement at the Leicester Arms.

“Signing up for our second pub with Brakspear has been an aspiration for a while. I really like their approach and the flat structure I can talk directly to Tom at any time, you don’t get that kind of access at most pub companies.”

Friendship and Beer operations director Stuart Labram described the White Bear as a “fantastic pub.

He added: “Once the redevelopment is complete, we know it will fly. It has been great working alongside Brakspear on the project, they have years of experience in refurbishing pubs but they have also listened to what we want as the operators.

“That respect is key to a good landlord-tenant relationship and a successful pub.”