Stonegate boss welcomes pubs minister appointment

During a reception celebrating the reopening of the Thames floating pub, Tattershall Castle,​ where 70 MPs were in attendance, Payne called on the Government to confirm the position.

The pubs minister was finally confirmed earlier this week (Tuesday 11 July) as Conservative MP for Rossendale & Darwen Jake Berry.​

The pub sector brings a huge contribution to the overall UK economy, Payne informed guests at the event last Wednesday (5 July).

Important to the wider economy

He said: “The pub and eating-out sector directly employs 1.5m people and provides indirect employment to a host of suppliers, contractors and ancillary services.

“We need to work hard to make the Government understand just how important we are to the wider UK economy.”

Stonegate has invested £27.1m in the first three-quarters of the financial year to June 2017, acquiring 50 more pubs, including the purchase of Intertain and its Walkabout brand,​ and now employs almost 14,000 people.

The acquisition of Intertain’s 30 sites from Better Capital was completed in December last year, for an undisclosed sum.

Significant investment

The Tattershall Castle, “the pub on the Thames”, was bought in 2015 and it has become one of the company’s flagship sites, with its 1,000 visitor capacity and multiple venue space for private hire and public use.

The pub group officially celebrated the reopening of the pub on Wednesday 5 July, following extensive work.

Stonegate has invested £500,000 since the boat moved to a mooring closer to the Houses of Parliament.

Payne added: “Given the appropriate support from the Government we will continue to make investments of this magnitude across the UK.”