COMPLETING the purchase of Sandpiper’s hospitality estate has ended staff uncertainty, according to Liberation Group CEO Mark Crowther (pictured).
He has been in the island to brief Bucktrouts employees, pub managers and all their tenants on his plans. They had, he said, been neglected for too long.
‘They have been through a difficult two or three years with the end of CI Traders and then being taken over by Sandpiper, where they weren’t strategically core to the business. But to me they are all we want to do. All the management staff can see that and they are very excited about it.
‘The fact that we have got money to invest in the pubs and restaurants and that we are tying the drinks business once more in with the pubs has gone down well, as has the fact that we have been very open with our communication to all 550 staff.’
The Liberation Group, which was founded to buy the portfolio, now owns 21 pubs in Guernsey, 42 in Jersey and two in Alderney, as well as Bucktrout & Co Ltd, the Jersey Brewery and Victor Hugo Ltd.
Before completing the deal this week, Mr Crowther, who lives in Bath but will soon move to Jersey, visited each of the 65 bars at least three times.
‘By visiting every site I was able to put down my thoughts and plans for each business.
‘We looked at each one and decided whether it should be a tenant’s pub or a managed pub. We also looked at every possible investment opportunity for each one, from a lick of paint or new signage to offering food or expanding the site.’
One place he believes has potential is the Deerhound.
Although it is already a successful operation, he said there was a chance with the unused cottage next door to offer some letting accommodation.
‘We are not here to carve up the business and sell it off in little bits.
‘My interest and what I enjoy is growing businesses. It’s not fun to shrink them, so if we can buy more pubs that’s great.’
Mr Crowther said that having the existing Sandpiper management on board had been an important factor.
‘After I got the funding side sorted out with Legal and General Ventures, I met the current team and explained what my aims for the business were and asked if they wanted to be part of it.
‘I’m the only new one to have put money in, but what’s great for me is that I have surrounded myself with an experienced management team who are excited about taking the business to the next stage.’
Article posted on 10th July, 2008 - 11.30am
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