Orchid, the managed operator, is set to use many of the design features from its new-style carvery pubs as it refurbishes the 50-strong carvery estate over the next two years, the company has told M&C Report.
The new design, which is currently in place at seven outlets, sees zoning added via glass walls to widen the customer appeal by enabling different groups to be served at the same time.
The next large-scale investment will be a c£300,000 spend at the Moby Dick in Romford, Essex, followed by the Pentre Gwilym in Cardiff, which will be converted from Orchid’s Free House Dining arm.
A spokeswoman told M&C Report: “Spend is prioritised by front of house features which affect the customer, eg: booth seating, feature walls, in built seat TVs and prominent carvery decks. Investment costs range from 50k to 300k and Orchid always works with the building, hence every pub’s needs are different.
“Orchid plans to put in a lot of the new design features as they refresh the estate over the next two years. All will get the ‘Home of the great British Carvery’ sub branding and will still offer farm assured quality British produce -something that won’t ever change.”
The new design led to a 62% increase in like-for-like sales at the Ainsworth Arms in Manchester, and a 28% uplift at the Young Pretender in Kings Langley.
Simon Dodd, commercial and people director at Orchid, said: “Massive spaces don’t work for us – they feel too empty even with several groups in and don’t create a warm, friendly atmosphere. Instead, we’re actually breaking down barriers by putting up special glass walls in our new style carvery pubs.
“These walls allow us to create spaces that are connected but retain their separate characters, meaning all sorts of customers can enjoy the same quality food and drink without one single group dominating the feel of the pub.”
