Young’s Pub Company has asked its top manager to turn around the fortunes of an under-performing pub on a profit share agreement, writes Lesley Foottit.
Oisin Rogers is in his sixth year at the Ship, Wandsworth, and the pub has achieved substantial year-on-year growth, once achieving £84,000 in takings on the bank holiday following the royal wedding last year.
Despite turnover being strong at the Thatched House in Hammersmith, it has struggled to make a substantial profit over the last few years. Young’s asked Rogers to look at how to increase profitability as a joint venture. The pub is still trading with a “back to basics” refurbishment will take place in April.
“We are working on plans and it is very exciting,” said Rogers. “It is very much in our advantage to increase profitability so we have to build the sales. The shape of the business and customer experience will change to fit the gap in the market in Hammersmith of better quality at lower prices.”
Rogers will use some ideas that work well at the Ship but the overall offer at the Thatched House will be tailored to the local area. The Ship’s former deputy manager Phil White has moved to the Thatched House as general manager and the head chef also has experience at the Ship.
The pub is close to Sipsmith gin distillery and will sell between eight and 10 varieties as a reaction to recent spirit trends at the Ship.
Rogers will cease to run the Orange Tree in Richmond to focus on the other two pubs. He will stay at the Thatched House for a minimum of three years and plans to take on another under-performing business in a year or two. He has won Young’s General Manager of the Year for the last two years.
