Dom Jacobs buys pub division from JKS

Following a four-year partnership with JKS Restaurants, pub operator Dom Jacobs has acquired the entirety of JKS Pubs.

Established in 2021 as a partnership between Jacobs and JKS Restaurants, the pub portfolio comprises The Cadogan Arms in Chelsea, The George in Fitzrovia and The Hound in Chiswick.

The division has been fully acquired by Jacobs through a private investment round. Backed by a new US-based private investor, the group will move forward to the next phase of growth under the new name of Ardent Pub Group.

The transaction also marks an exit for the pub group’s seed investors, who backed the business in 2021 through an Enterprise Investment Scheme.

“This is a hugely proud moment for me and for the Ardent team," says Jacobs. "I want to say a heartfelt thank you to Jyo, Karam and Sue for their belief, guidance and friendship over the past few years - we simply wouldn’t be here without them. I’m delighted that we can take forward the pubs we built together under a new banner: Ardent Pub Group."

What's next?

Ardent says that the international investment backing will enable the group to accelerate growth, targeting eight new openings across London and beyond in the next three to five years.

Since the reopening of The Cadogan Arms in 2021, the group has expanded with The George in 2022 and The Hound in 2024. Ardent has reported 20% year-on-year sales growth and over 40% year-on-year uplift in group level EBITDA.

"Partnering with Dom and the team over the past four years has been an incredible journey, and this transaction represents a great outcome for all JKS Pubs stakeholders," says Jyotin Sethi, co-founder and CEO of JKS Restaurants. "Together, we’ve shaped what we believe a true modern British pub can be, and we’re immensely proud of what we have created - three brilliant pubs that are beacons of warmth and hospitality, with a brilliant team behind them. As Ardent embarks on this exciting new chapter, we look forward to watching their continued success and growth, and we have every confidence that they will set new benchmarks for the industry."

JKS Restaurants was founded by the Sethi family in November 2008. The group encompasses 30 restaurants in the UK, Middle East and the US, including Berenjak, Gymkhana, Hoppers and Sabor.

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