The Stable co-founder Richard Cooper and his wife and co-founder Nikki will work to consolidate the pizza and cider concept before leaving the business towards the end of next year, MCA has leant.
Cooper said after a period of rapid growth for the 17-strong group, the operators would look to add up to six more sites ahead of their departure.
Fuller’s acquired a 51% stake in The Stable in 2014, which has since been taken up to 76% of ownership.
Cooper said the nature of the pizza and cider concept, with all food cooked on-site, made it unlikely the group could carry on expanding so rapidly.
He did not rule out the idea of Fuller’s introducing The Stable to its managed pub estate after the founder’s departure.
Cooper said: “Having grown considerably over the last two year, we’re now in the processes of looking at the business, rather than opening sites every five minutes, which is exhausting
“We haven’t stopped looking for restaurants, we are just moving at a slower pace.
“Needless to say we are moving out of the business later on next year, and we want to make sure its left in top shape, and that’s what we’re focussing on.”
Cooper said the group’s move into London from its West Country base had been challenging, but its focus on cider had been a valuable point of differennce to the many craft beer focussed operators.
He added: “We’re wery well known in the West Country, when you open a restaurant within earshot of somewhere you’re well known, there’s an audience and it’s much easier
“In London, where nobody knows us, we’ve had to start from scratch and build the business, so it’s much harder.
“Thankfully London has taken to us very well. We’ve been focused on cider, while others have been looking at beer, and in London that’s helped us stand out.”
Cooper, who founded the business in Dorset in 2009 with Nikki and chef Andy Briggs, said he and his wife would take some time off after exiting.
