Ossett’s pledge to invest in the community pub

The £10m turnover business, which has an estate of 19 pubs, with four brewing sites across Yorkshire, has pledged to invest further in community and live music themed pubs. The four pubs planned for this calendar year include two in the Leeds area, one in Bradford and another one in York.

Mike Inman, joint managing director, said: “We are also looking at potentially expanding the brewery, which is growing at a rate of about 15 per cent per year. It is getting to the point where we are almost at capacity.”

Brewing capacity is currently 200 brewers’ barrels a week – more than 57,000 pints.

Ossett, whose core brands include Excelsior, Silver King, Yorkshire Blonde, Big Red and Pale Gold, was founded in 1997 by brewer Bob Lawson and has become known for its single variety hopped pale beers.

The business opened its first pub, The Black Bull in Liversedge, in 2003. Last year, Ossett took on an extra 20 new people, bringing the total headcount to just over 220, said Mr Inman.

Ossett’s community pubs concentrate on restoring the original feel of the building with open fireplaces, stone floors and warm colours, while its Hops sites are city centre venues with free bands on at the weekends. Real ale is a central feature to both types of pubs.

Mr Inman said: “We hope to continue growth at the rate of two or three sites a year; we will continue to look for Hop sites in larger cities such as York, Manchester, Nottingham, but also look at opportunities for purchasing and refurbishing traditional community pubs closer to home in Yorkshire, particularly West Yorkshire areas.”

He said pubs have “consistently grown” alongside the brewery, so more than 30 per cent of beer brewed is sold through Ossett’s own pubs. The brewery delivers directly to pubs throughout northern and eastern England and nationally through wholesalers.

Mr Inman added: “Our reputation for quality award-winning ales means that we are fortunate to be brewing at close to capacity and are working with some quality free trade outlets alongside our own pubs. Our successful formula of cask ale led community and music pubs is enjoying success despite the economic climate as many pubs are closing.”

The brewing industry annual Cask Report claims that cask-conditioned ale continues to outperform the on-trade beer market. While cask drinks remain predominantly male, the report suggests there is a growing following for cask among young people, females and the more affluent.

Jamie Lawson, joint managing director, said: “We chose the Bull in Liversedge as our first pub as it is based at the heart of the community around it. It is a great example of the kind of turnaround site we look for. The best sites for us are pubs that through lack of investment by previous owners have become tired and forgotten in their communities, but once had a reputation for being the hub of the town or village.

“When money is carefully spent to sympathetically restore these sites they can in effect be ‘brought back to life’ and restored to their rightful place as a traditional gathering point for the community.”

Mr Lawson said that the music-themed pubs “are unique due to their eclectic interior design which blends traditional architecture with modern influences such as street art”.

Between £150,000 and £250,000 is invested on each new pub site; generally £150,000 on community pubs and £250,000 on city centre venues.

The estate includes brew pubs The Fernandes Brewery Tap, Wakefield, the Rat Brewery, Huddersfield, and the Riverhead in Marsden. Other pubs are located in Leeds, Sheffield, Halifax, Sowerby Bridge, Knaresborough and Dewsbury. The last one to open with a major investment was the Flower Pot in Mirfield.

Ossett has 12 freehold pubs, with the rest leasehold, while it manages all but one of its sites.

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