Cozy Pubs aims for 13 sites over five years as sales grow in 2012
Essex-based pub company Cozy Pubs is set to expand to 13 sites over the next five years, after reporting like-for-like sales growth of 9% so far in 2012.
The company, which was founded in 2010 by Leanne Langman, sister of Peach Pubs co-founder Lee Cash, alongside Paul Cutsforth and Timothy Doyle, has three sites so far.
This year it added the Saracens Head hotel in Great Dunmow, which has hit sales of £30,000 a week following a refurbishment, to its estate. The former Merchant Inns outlet has 30 en-suite bedrooms, four of which are suites, and launches its own on-site gymnasium and spa Saracens Fitness at the end of October.
Cozy also runs the Eight Bells in Saffron Walden and the Cricketers Arms in Rickling Green, near Stansted.
Paul Cutsforth, director of Cozy Pubs, said: "Although the economic environment has been more challenging than ever this year, we have managed to grow our like-for-like sales by maintaining our philosophy of sourcing fresh, seasonal and locally sourced food at pub prices and delivering warm, friendly hospitality."
"On top of that, each of our three pubs lays on weekly and monthly events that really boost sales, things that are a bit different and capture our guests' imagination like party nights featuring the internationally-acclaimed electronic violinist Enrique Navarro, casino nights and Dining in the Dark, where guests are blind-folded as they eat to enhance the culinary experience! It's all about encouraging people to come out on nights when they would normally stay at home. We are seeing a huge demand for these events and have already had a big response to our Christmas 2012 campaign."
Cozy is currently in negotiations on its fourth site, and plans to acquire a further nine over five years. Its expansion is being funded by retained profits of the company and directors' loans. To date the company has borrowed no money from any banks or financial institutions.
"We are actively looking for pubs and hotels throughout the South East of England and are keen to talk to any operators with potential sites we can take on and successfully develop," Cutsforth added. "We're open-minded about location and size. Anyone with any sites in mind is welcome to contact my colleague Timothy Doyle at tjd@cozypubs.co.uk."
By Neil Gerrard
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