St Austell Brewery is set to reopen 18 of its managed houses for outdoor service on April 29 having made significant investments in its alfresco spaces.
The independent, family-owned business secured working capital from its lenders - Barclays, HSBC UK and NatWest – at the end of 2020.
The funding was sought to ensure the business had the capacity to withstand the challenges of Covid-19 and invest strategically for its long-term future.
Outdoor terraces at the Old Success (Sennen Cove), the Masons Arms (Branscombe), the Victoria Inn (Salcombe), the Shipwrights (Padstow) and the Globe (Topsham) have all had extensive refurbs.
The Port William (Trebarwith Strand) and the Oystercatcher (Polzeath) both have new retractable roofs above their gardens, allowing diners to eat out whatever the weather.
The brewery will reopen the Hope & Anchor in Hope Cove in May, which has been closed since February 2020 as a result of flood damage.
The newly refurbished pub, with bedrooms, is set to become one of the company’s flagship sites. Its outdoor space, with waterside views, has been completely transformed, ready for the busy summer period ahead.
Kevin Georgel, chief executive, St Austell Brewery, said: “Securing this working capital from our lenders has enabled us to look forward with confidence, underpinning our progressive plans for the future.
“We’re delighted to have been able to invest this funding in our managed pub estate, to ensure that we are well positioned to meet the evolving needs of our customers.
“As a business, it is so important that we adapt our offering to changes in the market and consumer behaviour, while ensuring that we continue to deliver a warm welcome and great hospitality.
“We can’t wait to welcome guests back to our newly improved beer gardens and provide them with the best possible alfresco experiences.”
St Austell Brewery’s managed pubs opening outdoors from April 29 are:
The Ship, Plymouth
The Victoria, Salcombe
Haveners, Fowey
Chain Locker, Falmouth
The Rashleigh, Charlestown
The Harbour, Porthleven
The Fort, Newquay
The Shipwrights, Padstow
The Central, Newquay
The Old Success, Sennen
The Oyster Catcher, Polzeath
The Port William, Trebarwith Strand
Pedn-Olva, St Ives
Mill on the Exe, Exeter
The Masons Arms, Branscombe
Harbour Light, Paignton
The Old Market House, Brixham
The Globe, Topsham
St Austell Brewery, which also owns Bath Ales, reopened its holiday lets on April 12 and many of the chain of more than 100 tenanted pubs opened for al fresco meals and drinks on that date too, as individual tenants took the decision to start trading.
The company expects all its 36 managed pubs, inns and hotels to be open, serving inside and outside, when the next stage of the lockdown roadmap is met on May 17.
The brewery, which remains independent and family-owned, has a long pedigree in Cornwall and the wider South West region, and is famous for its beers – including Tribute and Proper Job. The business supplies retailers and licensed premises throughout the country and exports internationally.
In March 2021, Majestic, the UK’s largest specialist wine-seller, announced it is to stock two of St Austell Brewery’s flagship beers in stores and online.
Majestic, which is growing rapidly and has just opened a new store in Beaconsfield, Greater London, will list Tribute Pale Ale and Proper Job IPA on its website and in 200 stores nationwide.
