After more than ten years working behind bars, Nicola Hackett has become her own boss at last and is the first Spirit Group pub manager to take on a Punch Taverns lease.
The Old Cock Inn, Harpenden, is one of 740 pubs identified by Punch Taverns to be converted from a managed to leased operation.
The plans by the UK’s largest landlord present individuals with the chance to run the pubs as their own business and Nicola was eager to take up the opportunity.
She said: “When I was first presented with the idea it was a bit of a shock, but having spent so long working as a manager I felt the time was right to become my own boss.
“Running our own business will be different but we’re really looking forward to making our own decisions and continuing the success of what is already a fantastic pub.
“We were a little apprehensive of the change but the whole process was made smooth and painless by Punch’s lettings manager who gave us all the support we needed.
“My partner, Stephen Hawes, has also just finished the company’s award winning Modern Licensed Retailer training course so we both feel fully prepared to tackle the challenges that lie ahead.”
The Old Cock Inn is a sixteenth century traditional pub situated in an affluent area between Luton and St Albans. Popular with television celebrities and local football players, the pub plays host to regular live jazz events which take place in the pub’s courtyard during summer months.
Nicola doesn’t plan to make any major changes in the immediate future and knows the World Cup presents a great opportunity to get her business off to a flying start.
She said: “We’ve got lots of exciting plans for the World Cup including garden marquees and regular customer competitions. We’re also hosting a launch party on 3 June during the Jamaica friendly with a Jamaican Jerk barbeque and steel band.
“Once the excitement of the tournament is over we’ll review our plans for the pub and make some decisions for its long term future.”
The majority of the pub’s staff have been with Nicola for several years and she says they share her enthusiasm for the move to a leased operation.
“With so much hard work having been put in already it should be a fairly seamless transition and our challenge is to keep the momentum going and stay ahead of the competition,” she added.
Following the acquisition of the Spirit Group last December, Punch Taverns is now the UK’s largest pub company with an estate of more than 9,500 leased, tenanted and managed outlets.
Phil Pegler, operations director at Punch, said: “We are delighted to have confirmed our first transfer to lease from a batch which includes some of the highest quality pubs to come onto the market in recent years.
“Nicola is an exceptional operator and, having previously operated in a managed environment, she now has a great opportunity to stamp her own print on the Old Cock Inn, as a leasehold pub, to suit the local market.
“Entering into a lease with Punch is all about entering a partnership and our support package is designed to help licensees flourish in their new business.”
Nicola was assisted by one of eleven lettings managers, a newly created role aimed at finding the best operators and guiding individuals through the process of conversion.
The Harpenden outlet is part of Punch’s first phase of 211 pubs released to the market in February.
The company is releasing a second batch of 249 sites located across the UK which will be available from June and are being marketed by Christie & Co.
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For further information please contact Jules Kerby or Jo Mathers at Seal Communications on 0121 200 0780