Pub 2610 p19 city 21/10/09 12:17 Page 19
www.thepublican.com thePublican Monday 26/10/09 19
City & Business This Week
CHANGING
TACTICS
S&NPE has teamed up with a leisure
industry developer in a bid to change
the fortunes of some failed pub sites.
Roy Beers reports
IN A novel deal with an entrepreneur Price-sensitive Paisley has seen its
best known for branded coffee regular pub trade devastated over the
houses, Scottish & Newcastle Pub past two years, with a string of
Enterprises (S&NPE) next month closures which have included the
launches the pilots of two new demise of an independent bar, the
‘lifestyle’ licensed café-bar concepts Howwood Inn, which had traded
in moribund pub sites. since 1770.
S&NPE has teamed up with devel- The first Libertine boutique opera-
oper Gordon Richardson, original tion will be in the defunct Burns
founder of the Glasgow-based
Beanscene coffee and music house
chain, in a bid to revive pub sites
which have been unable to survive as Stephen Rooney (left) and
traditional wet-led outlets. Gordon Richardson. Left:
In a “new-wave bars” strategy Burns in Ayr, which will
which he reckons will “redefine” the become a Libertine outlet
pub experience, Richardson assumes
ownership of all in-house activities in
“one interactive social networking fruition. Beanscene broad appeal beyond typical pub
platform” – the aim being a 21st never went down the customers.”
century version of cross-trading licensed route and hit He added: “We see the deal as more
between venues. trading difficulties soon of a joint venture than the standard
Texts and emails to customers after he left: it has since idea of a lease, and with Gordon’s
linked to quality entertainment acts been relaunched under track record it’s one we’re confident
and special offers are likely to feature, new ownership. is going to work very well for both
along with a digital reprise of the parties.”
traditional loyalty card mechanic. Tavern on Ayr’s River Street, close to Evolving the concept He points to last year’s launch by
Richardson’s company, the burgh’s Gaiety Theatre, and it Richardson said: “While Caffé Luna is S&NPE of a major out-of-town
Onebiggroove, brings under one aims to be “more bohemian and edgy” in many ways the natural evolution of newbuild riverside destination venue,
umbrella everything from lifestyle/ than Caffé Luna’s laidback offering. the Beanscene concept in a more The Boathouse, as an existing
leisure concepts to music recording. Depending on the individual site, expansive space that lends itself to example of “lateral thinking”
S&NPE, which runs its pubs for and licensing board consent, music-based offerings, Libertine is a designed to create new trading oppor-
owner Royal Bank of Scotland, says Libertines will have the option of bar and casual dining facility and is tunities.
the deal is just the latest example of trading as late opening “boutique” very much performance based “It’s a partnership deal too,” said
its willingness to develop bold ideas versions of what would have been through its extension of the ‘house Rooney, “in that case with operator
designed to meet the challenge of designated entertainment licence gig’ concept.” Malcolm Binnie, who has been
difficult times. premises before the single licence S&NPE’s commercial manager successful in developing large, food-
system was introduced by the new Stephen Rooney told The Publican: led canal-side venues.”
Two brands Scottish Licensing Act this year. Its “The deal is certainly rather different He added: “At the same time the
Two brands are involved – Caffé Luna, offer will evolve from café breakfasts from the standard pubco-lessee vast majority of the S&NPE pubs are
with “an enhanced, all-day food offer- in the morning to live music or drama arrangement. operating well as good versions of the
ing” and Libertine, a “boutique” opera- slots after midnight. “Key elements of the typical lease, traditional pub – this is about adapt-
tion offering everything from acoustic Further sites are said to be ear- like the beer tie, remain, but beer ing sites to profitable use where a
music sets to comedy, poetry and marked for new Luna and Libertine won’t be such a big element as in a particular new approach is likely to
drama. openings in Glasgow, Edinburgh and traditional bar. be a success.” ■
The first Luna opens in a fortnight other Scottish towns and cities. “The accent throughout will be on
on the site of a failed traditional bar For Richardson it promises to see premium products and that will be
www.thepublican.com
on Paisley’s High Street and will pitch ideas he wanted to develop with reflected in the beer offer. The
/city
primarily at students from the nearby Beanscene (which he quit over a service credentials will be noticeably
university campus. strategy disagreement) brought to full high throughout, and it will have
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