New Moon Co intends to open its second Mockingbird Taproom in the first quarter of next year, as it pursues a three-pronged expansion strategy.
Co-founder Paul Newman told MCA’s sister title Restaurant that the company will concentrate on its three key brands – Beef & Pudding, Mockingbird Taproom and its “Olds” gastropub formats.
He said the ultimate aim was to have all three operating in Machester and Liverpool as well as Leeds, Harrogate, Sheffield, Birmingham and Newcastle.
To prepare for growth, the company has simplified the business by introducing a single menu across its gastropubs.
So far, growth has been organic, but Mooney and Newman acknowledge they may soon need to seek outside investment for the next stage of development.
Newman said: “We have had private investors approach us, but there are pros and cons. We could do an Old Blind School-style operation in Manchester and self fund it by hook or by crook. Do you give away part of the thing you’ve created? It’s a decision we’ve got to make in the next four to six months.
“We get asked once a month what our exit plan is, and we’ll know when the time is right. We do cultivate an image of being chippy boys who just sit there drinking wine and who got a bit lucky, but we are serious and passionate about what we have done and what we do next. And we are pretty good at what we do, too. You can only be so lucky.”