Peach on track for 22 pubs by 2013

Peach Pub Company is on track to reach its target of opening 22 pubs by 2013 and is hoping to secure its first pubs in London if suitable sites become available.

The Oxfordshire-based group, which opened its 14th site in Harpenden, Hertfordshire in May, confirmed its goal as it reported a 7 per cent rise in sales so far this year.

Co-founder Lee Cash said that due to the way that Peach works, with one partner looking after 'pods' of up to four or five pubs, the new sites will not be far from existing pubs.

He also said he would be looking for up to another two partners, increasing the number to seven, to help realise the company's plans.

He said: “The most important part is sourcing the right people. In the end I want there to be six or seven people who can all sit around a table and get on.”

Current sites

Enterprise Inns pub the White Horse in Harpenden, Hertfordshire, opened in May after a minor refurbishment and is already serving 1,000 covers a week. Peach took over from the previous owners Urban & Country Leisure.

Freehold the Richard Onslow in Cranleigh, Surrey, launched last year under new partner John Taylor and was re-opened on 1 July with 10 newly-refurbished en-suite letting bedrooms and an extended kitchen following an £80,000 investment.

It is the first venture south of London and Cash says that if the partnership goes well, there could be more Peach pubs opening in the Surrey area.

At the same time, Corin Earland, former senior head chef at the Almanack in Kenilworth, Warwickshire, has been promoted to group senior head chef and now works with suppliers and on menu ideas at the firm.

Lesley Foottit is food writer at BigHospitality's sister publication The Publican's Morning Advertiser.