Brakspear moves Chequers in Marlow into managed estate
Oxfordshire pub firm Brakspear has moved its flagship pub, the Chequers in Marlow, out of its tenanted and leased estate and into its fledgling managed operation.
The Chequers, a large food-led pub on Marlow High Street, has been run since 2010 by multiple-site lessees Tailor Made Dining (TMD), which is exiting the site to reshape its business. It currently runs two other Brakspear sites.
Brakspear is retaining the current Chequers staff team and food and drink offer, including the butcher's table where diners choose their steak, with the aim of keeping the change "almost invisible" to customers.
Chief executive Tom Davies said: "Tailor Made Dining have done a great job with the Chequers and turned it into one of our top pubs. We're delighted to be bringing it into our managed estate.
"The pub has a large and loyal customer base in and around Marlow and we intend to keep it that way. Over time, we may look to incorporate dishes that have worked in our other managed pubs, particularly the Bull in Henley, which is a similar high street, food-oriented business."
TMD director Ted Docherty said: "We have enjoyed taking the Chequers from a closed site to the thriving business it is today. It will be a good fit within Brakspear's managed division, and the move suits TMD's plans going forward.
"We will continue to work alongside Brakspear at our two other pubs, the Crown at Playhatch and the White Hart at Nettlebed."
Brakspear has three other sites in its managed portfolio, including the Bull on Bell Street in Henley; the Porch House in Stow-on-the-Wold; and the Running Horses in Mickleham, Surrey. All four sites are overseen by operations manager Mat Aket.