Brakspear meets Shakespeare: Stratford site takes managed estate to six

October 27, 2015

Pub operator and brewer Brakspear has purchased a bar and restaurant in Stratford-upon-Avon, taking its managed estate up to six sites.

The Church Street Townhouse is a 400 year-old Grade II listed building in the heart of Stratford, minutes from the Royal Shakespeare theatres, Shakespeare’s birthplace and other attractions. Currently, it has two bars, a dining room and 12 en-suite bedrooms.

Brakspear plans to trade the Townhouse in its current format, making only minor operational changes to improve trading, while deciding on changes to the food and drink to align with its other managed pubs.  A ‘sparkle’ is planned for 2016, which will refresh the offer while retaining the building’s individual and historic character.

Tom Davies, Brakspear chief executive, said, “We’re delighted to be taking the keys to this prime site in Stratford-upon-Avon, a town we’ve not traded in before and which we believe holds exciting potential. Its location in a large town with a huge tourist population makes it a different proposition to our other managed pubs, which are all situated in villages or small towns.

“Added to that, the Shakespeare factor is clearly going to have an impact on the way we trade the Townhouse, with pre- and post-theatre offers an important part of the mix, and a need to communicate to an international customer base.”

The Townhouse is the second addition to Brakspear’s managed estate this year, following the acquisition of the George Hotel in Shipston-on-Stour in May, and the company is continuing to look for suitable sites to expand the division further.

Brakspear’s first managed pub, the Bull on Bell Street in Henley-on-Thames, opened in March 2013, followed by the Porch House in Stow-on-the-Wold, the Running Horses in Mickleham, Surrrey and the Chequers in Marlow.  In September this year, Brakspear appointed Ed Turner as a non-executive director with a remit to help develop its managed pub division.

Images (top): Church Street Townhouse, (bottom) Tom Davies, Brakspear chief executive