Geronimo Inns, the Young’s-owned pub group, has secured two new sites to open in the autumn following three openings over the next few months, M&C Report has learnt.
The group, led by Ed Turner, has acquired the Trafalgar in Tooting and the old Guard House in Woolwich.
The Old Guard House is part of a new Berkley Homes development in the historic Guards building that will benefit from the CrossRail development when it is completed in 2017, while the Trafalgar is an existing pub that has been vacant.
Meanwhile Geronimo Inns is preparing to open The Fellow, in Kings Cross and The Owl and Pussycat in Shoreditch – both acquired from 580 in October – that are due to reopen in March.
It will open its first ‘pub on the go’ at St Pancras called the Curious Pig, which will offer commuters meals, picnics and wines and craft beers to take away. It will be an extension of the Betjeman Arms at the opposite end of the station, which Turner said gives travellers and commuters the option to enjoy Geronimo food and drinks regardless of the length of time available.
“We have been at the top of our game for a long time: we have maximised our trading space and keep growing,” Turner said. “We are just trying to be quirky and different.”
He added the festive period was positive across Geronimo’s estate of 33 London pubs: “We had a very good Christmas; Santa has been good to us and we are where we want to be: we beat some people in the market and didn’t beat others. The average turnover per pub is still strong.”
