Punch Taverns creates Neil Morrissey partnership focused on real ale
Men Behaving Badly star Neil Morrissey is to team up with pub company Punch Taverns to launch a new group of pubs across the UK focusing on real ale.
The agreement comes following the success of the With Neil Morrissey Pub Company's initial venture, the Plume of Feathers in Barlaston, Staffordshire, which reopened in March 2015 after a £400,000 refurbishment.
The number of pubs expected to open, and the projected cost of doing so, were yet to be confirmed.
A wet-led pub (at 55%), the current site offers 10 real ales in total, including a range of ales from Neil Morrissey's own line, which features the bestselling Morrissey Blonde. It also serves food and coffee.
Richard Slingsby, director of the With Neil Morrissey Pub Company group, said that Punch had been a fair, flexible and positive operator to work with.
Neil Griffiths, chief strategy officer at Punch, commented: "This is a completely new direction for both parties, and we will be working very closely together to ensure the venture's success. After the success of the initial pub we knew this was a partnership that could be expanded considerably."
Morrissey added: "The pub industry is one that is very close to my heart and it's been great to be so involved in [the Plume of Feathers]. I intend to be just as hands on with our other Punch pubs as we take them on and will be regularly on site speaking to customers and staff."
Founded in 1997, Punch now operates over 3,500 leased and tenanted pubs nationwide. It also has a partnership programme that can see successful pub managers become ‘Poddies', overseeing a host of pubs within the same area and holding a share in the business.
This is not the first high-profile partnership for the group in recent months; two weeks ago chief executive Duncan Garrood announced a partnership with fish and chip company Harry Ramsden's, as part of its drive to improve its food offer across the estate.
Punch Taverns partners with Harry Ramsden's in consumer-led push >>
