Marston’s unveils new partnership agreement
The Marston’s Partnership is headed up by directors of operations John Green and Matt Whiting.
It will include all current agreements including the retail agreements and the tenanted and leased pubs with the pubs being split across the segmented Marston’s estate.
The group said its new agreement had been developed after listening to applications, partners and colleagues to fine tune the model in a bid to make it fit for the future.
Marston’s stated Partnership now accounts for more than two thirds (66% or 900) of the pub group’s 1,350-strong estate and it will mean a five-year agreement with a three-month notice period.
Exponential change
Green said: “The sector has experienced exponential change over the past three years, we are experiencing huge demand for our pubs but on an agreement that feels fair for all in a world of constant change – this is the Marston’s Partnership.
“What is so good about what we are doing? Is the first question I get asked. Well the answer is straightforward – we do partnership (we have 900 of them), it’s in our DNA and we do pubs.
“It is transparent, fair and importantly futureproof. We have tested the new model over 18 months, working closely with our partners and learning.
“We have carefully matched people and pubs and the results are exciting. The direction of travel has been in place for some time and we are evolving the model and the agreement to reflect the market needs.”
Marston’s claimed since the Covid pandemic, it has experienced a significant rise in applications, particularly from outside the sector including retail and other food and beverage businesses as well as cafés and caterers.
Real magic
Green added: “We listened to what people wanted and worked hard to bring it to life. Across the business, demand is outstripping supply but we are committed to finding the right person for the right pub – because we know with the right person, that is where the real magic of the great British pub happens.”
Marston’s recently announced a trading update including the 2023 festive period, which showed like-for-like sales were up by 8.1%.
The trading update for the 16-week period to 20 January 2024 showed total retail sales in its managed and franchised pubs were up 8.8% against the same period in the firm’s 2023 financial year.
Just before Christmas, the group reported a 9% revenue rise in its preliminary results for the year ending 30 September 2023.
