Banx Pub Group takes on 18th site

Midlands and south west multiple operator Banx Pub Group has taken on the lease of The Princess Royal in Stoke on Trent.

In what will be the outfit's 18th venue, it is now undertaking a £123,000 joint upgrade with owner Star Pubs with the aim of creating 'the best wet-led pub in the area'.

The Princess Royal is Banx Pub Company’s third lease with Star Pubs. It currently runs six others on temporary management agreements, with plans to convert four to substantive leases in the near future.

"Our current growth rate is around three to four pub investments per year," says Banx Pub Group general manager Jamie Newbold. "Our ambition is to have 20 pubs by the end of 2025 and 30 pubs in the medium term. However, there’s no limit on our growth plans given we can identify the right pubs and publicans to run them."

A family affair

The family-run company was set up in 2021 by husband-and-wife team Shelley and Graham Tongue. Its rapid growth led to other family members joining the business as general manager and head of finance. It now has an annual turnover of around £6m.

Its pubs are a mix of leasehold and free-of-tie and include everything from food to community wet-led pubs and city centre late night venues. 

"The Princess Royal is a very popular local," says Star Pubs business development manager Andrew Myatt. "We’re delighted to be co-investing with Banx Pub Group to improve the surroundings for local residents to socialise in. The Banx Pub Company has a great track record of taking on and creating popular pubs. We look forward to helping them realise their growth ambitions in the years to come."

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