Tadcaster Pub Company, the northern England-based pub operator, has converted more pubs from tenanted to managed over the past year, managing director James Crawfurd-Porter has told M&C Report.
Seven of Tadcaster’s 29 pubs are now regarded as managed outlets on a permanent basis, he said. A further two are being run under temporary management while tenants are sought.
Crawfurd-Porter highlighted the success of one pub that re-opened as a managed site one year ago. Raggalds in Queensbury, Bradford, went from taking c£5,000 to around £20,000 per week after the conversion, with Crawfurd-Porter citing the impact of manager Richard Parker-Miller, who developed the food, functions and entertainment side of the business.
“It’s one the best turn arounds I’ve seen in my 20 years in the trade,” he said. “It’s all about the operator. The main reason we have turned this one around is by finding this particular guy; he is a very experienced manager with a good history behind him.”
Crawfurd-Porter said Tadcaster hasn’t divided its managed and tenanted/leased pubs into distinct divisions. “With our size we don’t have to be too prescriptive.”
Regarding Tadcaster’s future direction and the prospect of acquisitions, Crawfurd-Porter said: “We are looking at our strategic options and we are looking at various ways of expanding over the next few years.”
