Dan Shotton, co-founder of Redcomb Pubs, has told MCA the group’s new casual dining concept will add another avenue of growth as it continues to seek expansion in its core pub estate.
The group hopes to launch its Lock House format in Paddington’s Merchant Square in September, following a £1.3m investment.
He said he was already looking at further sites for the concept – which will feature around 15 street food-inspired dishes and a grab-and-go element – and hoped to open another three to five sites next year if the debut proves successful.
However, he stressed that pubs remained the core of the business and said negotiations were underway on several sites, including a package of pubs.
He told MCA: “The idea for Lock House came from a review of our acquisitions strategy. We are very keen to grow but as we’re a company based in the south and only looking at free-of-tie leases or freeholds, the market isn’t exactly awash with good quality opportunities for us.
“Lock House gives us the opportunity to look at sites we wouldn’t have considered before. We’ve always wanted to try out something more along the casual dining line so this has given us an opportunity to play around with that.
“Lock House is also about casual dining, craft beers, great wines – all done in a friendly, speedy manner.
“We will refine the offer as it goes forward but I can see a great deal of potential for it. It gives us the potential to look at retail units, square box developments and the like.”
Shotton said at the moment Lock House sat under Redcomb, rather than Apollo – the group’s joint venture with Downing – but said this could change as the brand rolled out.”
On growth within the pubs estate, Shotton said: “We are a pub company and always will be. We’re looking at individual sites and a couple of small groups and hope to have something to announce very soon.”
He said trading in the currently 14-strong pub estate had so far been strong despite the lack of good weather.
