Ascot Inns managing director Vince Healy has teamed up with pizza restaurateur Michael Wheeler for Thirsty Bear, a new American-style pizzeria pub concept.
The have confirmed their first site as the former Wynford Arms in Reading and plan to open six sites in three years, MCA has learnt.
The business partners have signed a 20-year lease with Star Pubs & Bars for the site, which has been closed for 18 months, with a £500,000 refurbishment ahead of a launch in March 2017.
Healy, who recently sold 10 Ascot pubs and retains two, said he and Wheeler, a bond trader from New York and director of London pizza restaurant NY Fold with US star Bruno diFabio, were currently looking at more sites in regional towns and hoped to have another opened by the end of 2017.
Healy told MCA: “We don’t want to be in London initially, we want to try and be in Surrey and Berkshire areas, the southern home counties we’re looking at
“We picked the site and it happened to be a Star site. The attraction is they are still offering 20 year leases, compared to Punch and Enterprises which are more focused on a five-year tenancy deal, which don’t encourage investment
“We’re investing a lot of money, and it’s a good site in a buzzing town, just on the edge of the centre.”
The work at the Wynford Arms will double the pub’s trading area, giving the traditional interior a contemporary look with American influence.
There will be an open plan pizza kitchen and dessert and barista coffee stations downstairs, with disused accommodation upstairs being converted into a lounge plus roof garden with seating for 45 people.
New York style pizza will be cooked in an imported £20,000 pizza oven with Fabio Ferrarini, the UK pizza champion, training up cooks and kitchen staff.
American favourites such as ribs, chicken wings, smoothies, shakes, Mississippi mud pie and New York style cheesecake will also be on the menu.
Healy and Wheeler are looking for further well-located town centre sites with a minimum capacity of 100 covers and external seating in the southern, western and northern home counties in order to expand the concept. They will consider 15-year plus tied and free of tie leases as well as freeholds.
Healy added: “I’ve been running pubs for over 20 years and I’ve made some good and bad decision over the years. I’d like to think I’ve learnt some things which I can bring to bear and make Thirsty Bears a success.”
