Like every good landlord, Dublin-born businessman Patrick Dardis has a few tales to tell from his 20 years at Young’s Pubs.
For a start, the rugby-mad boss of the 190-year-old pub chain makes no secret of the enjoyment he still gets from socialising. At a recent Ireland v Scotland rugby game, Dardis was putting away pints until the early hours – he says he didn’t count exactly how many.
But, over a glass of Brooklyn Pilsner at The Britannia pub in Kensington, West London, he says the days of raucous sessions with his rugby pals when he used to sink 20 pints are long in the past: ‘I’m 63 years old, no I couldn’t do that any more.’
Dardis announced his retirement in March, after six years at the top of Young’s. He will formally stand down at the annual meeting in July, when Simon Dodd, the chief operating officer, will take over.
Mail on Sunday. To read the full interview click here
