Leisure firms New Moon and Ribble Valley Inns spread their wings

TWO ambitious North West leisure operators, New Moon Pub Co and Ribble Valley Inns are expanding into the new parts of the region.

Cheshire-based New Moon is opening its fifth venue in three years – Beef & Pudding, described as an urban pub and kitchen, on Booth Street in Manchester city centre.

Meanwhile, Lancashire-based Ribble Valley Inns, which is part of the Northcote Leisure Group, has bought its first site in Cheshire, The Nag’s Head, Haughton near Tarporley. Like New Moon the new site will be the fifth in its portfolio.

A sixth will follow soon, as Ribble Valley Inns says it is in “advanced negotiations” for a second Cheshire site.

The Nag’s Head will be closing for an extensive refurbishment and is due to open in early June. 

Chief executive Wayne Chapman said: “Expanding into Cheshire is part of our growth strategy and enabling more customers in different geographic areas to experience the Ribble Valley proposition.

“The refurbishment and refinement process of our existing properties, The Three Fishes and The Clog and Billycock have been extremely successfully encouraging this growth into Cheshire.  Cheshire already has some fantastic dining pubs and we’re excited to be competing in such a buoyant market and finding great new Cheshire suppliers to work with.”

New Moon Pub Co is run by chef and restaurateur David Mooney and Paul Newman, a former Living Ventures sales and marketing director.
 
Commenting on the forthcoming launch of Beef & Pudding on the site where the Crown pub is now, Mr Newman said: “Manchester is a thriving city, where quality is recognised and expected. We’re excited to bring our brand of dining experience to the area and we know it will meet the strict criteria for excellence demanded by city diners.”

Beef & Pudding will offer fine ales, quality wines and cocktails. A full interior refurbishment and the installation of a state-of-the-art kitchen will see a considerable investment. The new venue will also create 20 to 30 jobs including positions for bar, kitchen and waiting staff.

The name of the new venue is inspired by its location, close to St Peter’s Square, and the site of the Peterloo Massacre, which was immortalised in a caricature by George Cruikshank, where a soldier says: “Give them no quarter, they want to take our beef and pudding from us.”

Beef & Pudding is scheduled to open at the end of March 2014.