Robinsons pledges to revamp pubs
ROBINSONS – the family-owned brewer and pub operator – has ear-marked £7m for refurbishing its estate over the next two years.
This month marks 175 years since the Stockport brewer Robinsons bought its first pub on Lower Hillgate in the town and the pub refurbs are the latest phase in a multi-million pound investment in the business by the family.
More than 30 pubs are being given a revamp this year, at a cost of £3.5m, including £100,00 at the New Inn in Buxton and £70,000 at the Red Dragon in Kirkby Lonsdale, and a similar sum has been committed for 2014.
Operations director David Harrison said: “Some of our pubs in the Lake District, North Wales and Cheshire are amongst the best pubs you will ever see,but we have dozens of great community-focused pubs which need an equal amount of love.
“So alongside significant investment into pub repairs we need to continue to support our pubs at all levels in order to make the most of our diverse pub estate in the North West.”
Joint managing director (drinks division) Oliver Robinson added: “We have been investing in British pubs for more than 175 years, and we don’t intend to stop now, but you can’t live on past glories – each generation needs to make changes.”
“Robinsons has always worked on the basis of the long term rather than the short term. Over the years we have demonstrated that we mean business with our brewery, beers and training centre, now we need to show that we mean business in our 300+ pub estate too.”
Aside from its pubs, Robinsons’ long term commitment has been demonstrated by a £5m investment in rebuilding its brew house, launching new products such as its ‘Trooper’ beer developed with Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson, and pumping £2m into a visitors and training centre in Stockport.
