Award winning Lancashire restaurant planning to sell its pub chain
The team behind Northcote Manor is to sell its chain of pubs so it can concentrate on landing a second Michelin star – according to reports.
The Ribble Valley Inns group was launched in 2004 by the joint managing directors of Northcote Manor – Craig Bancroft and chef Nigel Haworth.
The firm owned six pubs across the North West but is now looking to concentrate on its award restaurant near Blackburn.
According to reports Brunning & Price, which is part of the Restaurant Group, has agreed to buy four pubs.
They are the Three Fishes in Mitton and the Clog & Billycock in Pleasington, Lancashire; the Highwayman in Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria; and the Bull at Broughton in North Yorkshire.
The sale of the Nag’s Head in Cheshire for £1m is close to completion and the Stag’s Head on Alderley Edge is on the market for £1.3m.
Craig Bancroft said the decision to sell the pubs would enable the firm to concentrate on the Nothcote Hotel in Langho.
The company also runs corporate hospitality at Blackburn Rover’s stadium.
He told The Caterer: “We have had a fabulous journey since 2004 when we launched what was then a trail-blazing pub group which was admired and copied by many in the industry.
“But in recent years it became harder and more difficult to remain highly profitable in the sector with the expansion of fierce competition.
“We were not looking to sell at this time, but when the approach was made to us, the interest was then consolidated and I realised that the time was now right to let them go. It will enable us to focus on achieving a second Michelin star at Northcote.”
Mary Willcock, managing director of Brunning & Price, said: “We have admired Ribble Valley Inns for many years and believe that these well-known and long-established businesses are perfectly positioned geographically for us to enhance our presence in the north of England.
As always, we feel that a pub should retain its own personal character and look forward to working with the teams locally to ensure they prosper and thrive in the coming months and years.”
