Charles Wells to expand John Bull Pub Company in France

Pubco Charles Wells has announced plans to expand its John Bull Pub Company business in France with increased investment and a board reshuffle.

John Bull operates traditional English pubs run as managed houses in France with a focus on award-winning English beers, pub games and friendly staff.

Anthony Wallis, currently managing director of both Charles Wells and John Bull, will work exclusively on the French operation from October. His remit is to drive growth and establish the infrastructure to expand the business from seven to 20 pubs within five years.

This directive aims to complement the company's ambitions to double export sales over the same period through Wells and Young's Brewing Company, whose core export brands are in double digit growth.

Meanwhile Peter Wells has been promoted from sales and marketing director to MD of Charles Wells, filling the post laid vacant by Wallis's change of responsibility.

Paul Wells, chief executive of Charles Wells, said: "Anthony has been an inspirational leader and established Charles Wells as the top regional brewery pub company with a strong focus on customer support.

"His experience will be invaluable to John Bull Pub Company as we target an ambitious expansion plan and I'm sure he'll make an immediate impact when he takes on the role full-time.

"In Peter Wells, we're fortunate to have appointed a creative and collaborative managing director for Charles Wells Pub Company. His vision for working with licensees to develop profitable and sustainable businesses will be the foundation for our five-year growth strategy and I think we have a very exciting period of development ahead of us with Peter at the helm."

Charles Wells is based in Bedford and has 240 pubs based largely in Bedfordshire and the Northern Home Counties, while John Bull has seven pubs - The Bombardier, Paris; The Charles Dickens and Sherlock Holmes, Bordeaux; The London Town and George & Dragon, Toulouse; and The Shakespeare and Robin Hood, Montpellier.

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By Janie Stamford

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