Yorkshire Pub Stuff takes on 32nd site

Multiple operator Yorkshire Pub Stuff is taking the lease on The Major Oak in Arnold, embarking on a joint £325,000 investment with owner Star Pubs & Bars.

The Major Oak is Yorkshire Pub Stuff’s sixth long-term lease with Star and brings its estate to 32 pubs.

The work will include the creation of a separate bar, a revamped sports room with screens, pool and darts, a lounge that doubles as a function room, and a new kitchen to enable food to be introduced.

Outside there will be a 120-seater garden complete with children’s play equipment.

"In the past, we’ve funded improvements to the pubs we lease," says Garry Astle, managing director of Yorkshire Pub Stuff. "We have developed a close working relationship with Star and are excited to be building on that by investing together." 

A different approach

Formerly in the automotive industry, Astle has brought the Japanese Kaizen business approach to Yorkshire Pub Stuff. 

"It has helped us create a robust back-office system and a fantastic team, giving us the capacity and the ability to grow with confidence," he says, "This is crucial when taking pubs on temporary agreements, as it’s often with little notice; to do it successfully, your controls and your team have to be really strong."

The business is eyeing further expansion across the Midlands, looking at leased pubs on both temporary and longer-term agreements. While the company operates a wide spectrum of sites, including rural food-led pubs with letting rooms, it is most interested in wet-led community locals in which it specialises.

"Yorkshire Pub Stuff has an excellent track record for turning round underperforming pubs," says Mike Smith, Star Pubs & Bars’ investment manager. "We’re delighted to be investing with them to unlock the potential of The Major Oak."

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