Pitcher & Piano, the bar chain that’s part of Marstons’ Revere Pub Company, is being shifted away from the late-night sector to refocus on the after-work market, in a move that will see the re-introduction of pianos at some sites, M&C Report has learnt.
Revere managing director Colin Sadler told M&C Report that the 21-strong concept is now aimed more at All Bar One than the likes of Revolution Vodka Bar and Slug & Lettuce.
In a sign of its changing customer base, Sadler said Fosters used to be the best selling beer at P&P. It’s Peroni - at a significantly higher price point. “Our best selling beer used to be our cheapest beer; now it’s our most expensive one!” he said.
P&P bars are now receiving smaller annual investments of c£70,000 rather than the big occasional spends of c£500,000. and as a result they are now leading Marstons’ investment returns league table.
Marstons’ Que Pasa in Hitchin is set to re-open as a Pitcher & Piano at the start of August, its first conversion to the brand in five years.
Following Marston’s H1 results last month, chief executive Ralph Findlay told M&C Report that new Pitcher & Pianos could be built as part of the company’s newbuild expansion programme for 2015.
He said: “It’s possible that as part of that 20 to 25 [newbuild openings per year] Pitcher & Piano could be included in there. We’ve pruned the weaker sites and got out of expensively rented leases. Pitcher & Piano’s performance is very strong - average weekly sales are £23,000. I think Pitcher & Piano has got to the point where it has expansion potential.”
