In Brief: Yorkshire pubs; JCT600; Freedom Festival
YORKSHIRE pubs stuck in an 80s timewarp will be snapped up by new buyers with an eye on current and future trends, according to a hospitality sector specialist.
Colliers International director Leigh Parsons, who has sold dozens of hotels and pubs across the region in the past twenty years, has commented on the Good Pub Guide 2014 prediction that up to 4,000 licensed premises were at risk of closing over the next 12 months.
He said: “The Good Pub Guide’s dire forecasts have certainly stirred up a hornet’s nest in the trade, but it is fairly obvious that poorly performing pubs stuck in the 80s will go to the wall. However, we are experiencing strong demand at the moment and I believe there are plenty of buyers out there ready to have a crack at the right pub in the right location.
“Good pubs in the main tourist areas have seen solid trade on the back of the better weather we have enjoyed this summer. There has also been a significant spring back after the deadening effect of the Olympics combined with a marked improvement in the wider economy. There are definitely buyers out there for the right sort of pub although it’s fair to say the country and town centre locations remain the most sought after.”
He said typical country pubs in the Yorkshire Dales, North York Moors and coastal locations were continuing to attract would-be owners.
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FAMILY owned Yorkshire car retailer JCT600 has announced that it will continue as the main sponsor of Bradford & Bingley Rugby Club for the 2013/14 season.
JCT600 was founded in Bradford and has supported the Bees rugby club for the last ten years. As well as sporting the JCT600 logo on the playing shirt of all squads from the age of nine, the company also promotes its dealerships in the clubhouse, around the stadium and in the match programme and displays a selection of its cars at home matches.
Peter Rae, chairman of the club, said: “On behalf of the Bees Committee, I would like to thank JCT600 for their continued support. As a community club that has a very large and costly ground to maintain, the support of a Yorkshire company like JCT600 is crucial to the success of the club and we are very grateful each year for their generous donation.”
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MORE businesses have added their support to this weekend’s Freedom Festival.
Business partners University of Hull and Keepmoat and sponsors ABP, The Deep and Compendium Living have all pledged support for the event. The companies join initial supporters KC, the Wykeland Group, Hull College and Spencer Group.
Jenny Coombes, development manager for the Freedom Festival said that positivity towards the city’s leading cultural event is “huge” and that Hull’s City of Culture shortlisting had bolstered support for the festival.
She said: “There’s definitely a massive buzz around Hull at the moment, and it feels like everyone in the city wants to do their bit toward the City of Culture bid.
“Support we’ve received for this year’s festival has been fantastic and we’re thrilled to have our sponsors on board.”
