Punch and the ‘With Neil Morrissey Pub Co Ltd’ have formed an exclusive business partnership after the success of their initial joint venture; The Plume of Feathers in Barlaston, Staffordshire.
Under the agreement the With Neil Morrissey Pub Co Ltd will run a number of pubs across the country, with a focus on community destination sites. The aim is to build a credible chain of sustainable pubs, which reflect Men Behaving Badly star Neil Morrissey’s passion for real ale and offer customers a welcoming, comfortable environment to relax and socialise.
The Plume of Feathers
The Plume of Feathers re-opened in March 2015 after receiving a £400,000 refurbishment and has now returned to its place at the heart of the Barlaston village. It has proved to be a tremendous success and forms the template for the new agreement between the parties.
The Plume of Feathers is 55 per cent wet led, with 10 real ales available for customers to enjoy. This includes Neil Morrissey’s own range of ales: Morrissey Blonde sells 25 per cent more than any other cask ale. The pub also has a strong food offering, complemented by superior quality coffee and welcomes a wide customer demographic.
Neil Morrissey commented: “The Plume of Feathers has proved a real success and I feel very proud of the team – the pub industry is one that is very close to my heart and it’s been great to be so involved in this site. I intend to be just as hands on with our other Punch pubs as we take them on and will be regularly on site speaking to customers and staff, just as I am at the Plume of Feathers.”
New direction
Neil Griffiths, Chief Strategy Officer at Punch, added: “This is a completely new direction for both parties, and we will be working very closely together to ensure the venture’s success. After the success of the initial pub we knew this was a partnership that could be expanded considerably and one that fits well with our company strategy to utilise a broad range of flexible operating models that are in line with today’s evolving pub market. We’re looking forward to identifying the best sites for the With Neil Morrissey Pub Co Ltd to run, getting the necessary investment and being ready to welcome customers into a very attractive environment.”
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