Roseacre Pub Company acquires 10th site with new Star Pubs lease

Midlands-based Roseacre Pub Company has taken its seventh pub with Star Pubs, increasing its estate to 10 sites, with plans to expand further. 

Roseacre Pub Company and Star Pubs are now undertaking a joint £350,000 refurbishment of The Roseycombe in Binley Woods near Coventry prior to reopening the pub in time for Christmas. The overhaul will turn The Roseycombe into a “premium” local serving great food and create 25 new jobs. The pub will serve drinks only initially and will introduce food in early January. 

The investment will renovate the outside of the pub and transform the garden, adding five eight-seater dining pods, an outside bar and a stylish heated patio covered with a stretch tent that can be booked for private functions.  

An internal makeover will upgrade the dated pub to a high standard throughout with a smart new décor. In terms of layout, The Roseycombe will have a “spacious” bar for drinks and socialising, a “cosy” snug, a lounge and a new dining area developed out of an old conservatory. 

Other improvements include installing a barista coffee machine, putting in a carvery and refitting the kitchen to enable the pub to major on food. The menu will cater for all occasions, from light lunches to celebration dinners and Sunday roasts. 

The Roseycombe fits into Roseacre Pub Company’s core business model, which is focused on mid-market suburban dining pubs with 100-plus covers inside and large gardens and car parks. 

Roseacre Pub Company is now looking to grow to up to 15 sites and hopes to lease more pubs from Star Pubs. 

Roseacre Pub Company’s owner Ash Gartshore said: “Star understands our business and has excellent sites that they care about and invest in. Importantly the design process is very much a partnership, and we’re equally involved in shaping new schemes.

“Our expansion is contingent on finding the right pubs in the right locations with the right demographics for our offer. This goes hand in hand with having employees trained up to open new sites, as we develop our talent internally and pride ourselves on offering them long-term career opportunities. For that reason, we only consider pubs within a 45-minute drive from Leicester, as team members don’t need to move home to take up new positions.”

He continued: “Sales are up year-on-year and have been relatively buoyant over the summer, despite the poor weather, with excess demand at times. Our customer base wants to go out and has the disposable income to do so. Our mantra of selling good food in a great environment at an affordable price is hitting the spot. 

“We’re seeing new customs both from people trading down from gastro pubs and from others trading up from lower-margin pubs that have been forced to increase their prices as a result of inflation. The price disparity is smaller and customers can appreciate the value we provide in terms of quality.”

Star Pubs’ business development manager for Coventry Nathan Darby added: “We’re delighted to build on our long relationship with Roseacre Pub Company at The Roseycombe. They are superb business operators who know their market inside and out and consistently deliver an offer that works. Our joint investment will enable them to create another strong pub business in the Midlands.”