Draft House, the London-based craft beer concept founded by Charlie McVeigh, has reported double-digit like-for-like sales growth over the last three months and said it was close to adding a further two sites to its five-strong estate for openings in the first quarter of next year.
McVeigh told M&C Report that he was in talks on two new sites and that he hoped to add between three to five new units over the coming 12 months. It is thought that of the two he is currently in talks on, one will come under the group’s larger format and the other under its smaller, more wet-led format.
He also confirmed that the company had sold its Lordship Lane unit to David Page’s Franco Manca group.
McVeigh said: “I have been delighted with how performance has grown over the last few month, there has certainly been a pick up, which we have seen right across the estate. Our most recent opening at Seething Lane has quickly become our top performer and has also had a positive impact on our nearby Tower Bridge site.”
McVeigh said the group had two models in which to explore further growth with, a smaller wet-led format such as at its Charlotte Street site and its larger, more food-led units like at Seething Lane.
He said: “We did two last year. I’m hoping to do two this year and pick up the pace to three to four this year. The two formats give me the flexibility on the expansion front, especially in such a competitive market in the capital.”
DCL acted on the Lordship Lane deal.
