Growing North East hospitality group Blackrose Pubs has announced plans to carry out six refurbishments across its estate, after completing investments worth £1.5m so far this year.
The Gosforth-based business, which has 40 sites across the UK, has so far finished makeovers at five of its pubs in the North East and Yorkshire.
The work comes after Blackrose added a popular Newcastle venue to its portfolio, acquiring The Lochside in Benton as part of its strategy to invest in community pubs, refurbishing them to a high standard to breathe new life into local areas. The deal marks the start of a strategic acquisition programme at Blackrose.
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The venue will now stay closed for six weeks while a team carries out a significant makeover.
Managing director Daren Knipe said: “The Lochside joining Blackrose is a great step forward for the business and the beginning of the pipeline for our acquisition programme.
“This is the first of many acquisitions for Blackrose and we are excited to invest in the local community as well as the hospitality sector after a difficult two years. This pub has always been a target for us and it’s well overdue an investment which will be a welcome addition to all in the local community again.”
Business development manager Jon Raw added: “It’s brilliant news to be able to welcome The Lochside into Blackrose. The pub is a real gem, a real local pub, at the heart of the community and presents us an exciting opportunity. I’m proud to be part of the team who will transform and bring this great pub back to life.”
David Cash, director of hospitality at property agents Christie & Co, said: “We had a huge amount of interest in the pub from a range of prospective buyers, from private individuals, local and regional multi-operators, and national pub companies. This demonstrates strong demand for quality hospitality businesses, despite the challenges the industry continues to face. Blackrose are a great fit for this site, and I look forward to seeing it prosper under their ownership.”
The Newcastle pub deal marks the latest in a number of acquisitions and refurbishments carried out by Blackrose, which is based at The Millstone pub in Gosforth, since its launch in 2019 by London based real-estate company Aprirose.
Blackrose’s recent investments include a £385,000 spend into The White Bear in Barnsley, where the company worked with Shipley based JSDesign Partnership to transform the town centre site. In Sheffield it completed The Porter Cottage by Dirty Habit. And in Whitley Bay, the firm launched its second Dirty Habit concept, investing £565,000.
