Dorbiere Pub Group, the operator of freehold pubs across northern England and the Midlands, is set to churn its estate before focussing on growth, M&C has learnt.
Managing director Ebrahim Mukadam told M&C he expected at least three pubs from the currently 52-strong estate to be sold to fund further growth.
The company bought just one site in 2015 – Da Vinci’s in Stockport and Mukadam said he hoped to add more in 2016.
He said: “Last year a lot of the focus was on improving the current estate. We spent almost £1m, changing the focus and look of some of our pubs. A lot of that was about introducing food or improving what they did with food.
“We introduced a carvery into one site, which was very successful so we are looking at other pubs that might benefit from that.”
Mukadam said the company had also rolled out Sky and BT Sport across its estate, which he said had boosted trade, particularly on Champions League nights.
On the focus for 2016, he said: “We want to find some good sites in our core areas that give us the possibility to improve their trade.
“We will look at getting rid of some from the bottom end. They are pubs that are not really viable anymore in their areas.
“Other than that we will continue to evolve. As long as you do that the pub sector is a good business to be in. As well as out food offer we have worked on our drinks range. We sell a lot more craft beer now as well as prosecco and champagne.”
