Following a £150,000 joint investment from Blind Tiger Inns and Star Pubs, the venue’s leaseholder, the Grey Man has been refurbished inside and out.
The moved marked the North-west multiple-operator’s 19th leasehold with Star pubs, with much of its estate made up of community wet-led sites in towns and city centres.
Inside, the pub, which specialises in sports and entertainment, has been opened up with the bar enlarged and a new stage installed.
The contemporary new look also included an exposed brick wall with graffiti by North-west graffiti artist Jano and eight HD TV screens.
Huge potential
Outside, a new patio area with seating and a picket fence has been added to the front of the pub while the beer garden has benefitted from the addition of four new timber booths plus A-frame tables and benches as well as children's play equipment. The investment has created seating for more than 100 people in the Grey Man’s outdoor areas.
Blind Tiger Inns managing director Chris Tulloch said: “The Grey Man is in a superb location, with plentiful chimney pots in the immediate vicinity. It is in a great community, and we could see it had huge potential. We typically look for pubs that require investment to bring them back to life.”
Tulloch added while the business is expanding, with six more pubs expected to be added to its estate in the future, Blind Tiger Inns was not “driven by reaching a target number of pubs”, but rather “finding the right venues and running a fun, sustainable business.”
“We have enjoyed a strong few years since the pandemic. The market is clearly tough, not least with the utilities and labour costs seeming to be a constantly increasing factor.
“However, overall, the market is robust if you invest in your pubs and your people and strive to create great experiences for your customers”, he continued.
Different opportunities
Though the managing director urged the Government to make good on its pledge to reform business rates to “level the playing field” between bricks and mortar businesses and online retail.
However, Tulloch added there would be “no quick fix” when it comes to business rates and implored MPs to implement an “interim plan” to support firms.
In addition, the Blind Tiger Inns boss said as more pub companies have down the leased and tenanted route, options within the model have “reduced”.
He added: “The past few years have seen many traditional pub companies fall in love with the model we have successfully operated for years, opting for percentage based / operator agreements.
“As a result, the leased and tenanted options are reduced. However, this pushes us to explore different opportunities which is a lot of fun.”
