Former Orchid Group chief executive, Rufus Hall, and Gavin Drew, co-founder of Foundation Inns and ex head of finance at Spirt Pub Company, have formed a new pub company, MCA understands.
The duo have set up Urban Village Pub Company, with the aim of acquiring and investing in freehold pubs in the South of England.
It is understood that Rockpool Investments helped to set up the company.
Hall, who is also an advisor to the Chopstix Group, spent eight years at the helm of Orchid before the majority of the estate was acquired by Mitchells & Butlers in 2014.
He then spent two years as managing director of Fine Food Capital, the Thai food group.
Drew created Foundation Inns with Ian Grundy in 2007 after working with Punch, Spirit and Scottish & Newcastle.
