Pub chain

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A modern pub company

A pub chain is a group of pubs owned by a single company, although the term usually refers to chains in the United Kingdom. Examples include Wetherspoons, Walkabout, All Bar One and the Eerie Pub Company. Pubs in the chain are typically branded with the same name, however the former "Firkin" pubs tended to be variations on a theme including the word Firkin in the title. Wetherspoons pubs also have individual name, although the Wetherspoons brand is still prominently displayed.

Types

In the United Kingdom, there are two types of pub chain, reflecting the ownership of the pub and the style of operations. Pubs are either tenanted or managed.

Pub chains such as Punch Taverns and Enterprise Inns own thousands of tenanted pubs which are not branded and retain uniqueness.

Pub chains operating managed houses are frequently run as brands, located near a high street but rarely in predominantly residential areas.

Multiple-held pubs do exist in countries other than the United Kingdom, but due to most countries having different accepted systems of ownership and supply, they do not hold anywhere near the level of control over the market as they do in the UK.

Companies

Mitchells & Butlers

Mitchells & Butlers used to be the retail division of Bass plc, which rebranded in July 2001 to become Six Continents Retail, and again in April 2003 to its current name. The company owns All Bar One, Ember Inns, Edwards, Flares, O'Neills, Castle and Scream, as well as others. It is based in Birmingham.

Luminar Leisure

Chicago Rock Cafe and Jumpin Jaks are owned by 3D Entertainment, which is based in Milton Keynes. Previously they were owned by Luminar who now operate large nightclubs such as Oceana.

Laurel Pub Company

Laurel (based in Luton) acquired several pub chains using funding arranged by Robert Tchenguiz, including buying Bar Med and Slug & Lettuce from the administrators of SFI Group plc in June 2005 for £80m and also Yates's who were based in Bolton, Greater Manchester, in May 2005 for £202m. Laurel owns the HogsHead chain of high street bars. In April 2007 Laurel also acquired the La Tasca chain of tapas bars for £123m. Tchenguiz bought the company through his company R20 for £151m in November 2004. Laurel were placed into administration in March 2008 and the assets were immediately purchased by Bay Restaurant Group and Town & City Pub Company in a "pre-pack" deal.

Pitcher and Piano

Pitcher and Piano has been owned by Marstons since 1996.

Barracuda Group

Varsity, Barracuda Bars, Juniper Inns, Cape and Smith & Jones are owned by the Barracuda Group, which is based in Marlow, Buckinghamshire.

Hobgoblin

The Hobgoblin pubs are a chain in London and the south of England. They were owned by Wychwood Brewery until 2002.

Oakman Inns and Restaurants

Oakman (based in Tring) are a chain in the Home Counties. Their first outlet The Akeman won Best UK Pub Design 2009 in The Publican Awards.

External links

• Bar Med.
• Laurel Pub Company.
• Oakman Inns and Restaurants.
• Chicago Rock Cafe.
• Edwards.
• Eerie Pub Co
• Flares.
• Jumpin' Jaks.
• O Neills.
• Pitcher and Piano.
• Scream.
• Slug and Lettuce.
• Varsity.
• The Walkabout
• J D Wetherspoon & Lloyds No.1
• Yates.
• Shaft.
• Independent Pub Company.
• The Hobgoblin Pub.
• More Pub Chains.