Greene King teams up with independent Yorkshire brewery to relaunch Leeds pub
In an unusual move, the Bury St Edmunds-based pubco has joined forces with an independent brewer to reopen The Old Peacock pub.
The venue, which sits opposite Leeds United football ground Elland Road, will be relaunched on Friday 2 August following a £400k refurbishment programme which has helped create 25 new jobs.
“Ossett Brewery ticks all the boxes for us as first class pub operators; passionate about the business and highly driven to meet customer demand and expectations,” said Simon Longbottom, managing director of Greene King Pub Partners, the tenanted and leased arm of the Suffolk-based firm.
Wider range
Ossett Brewery, which was this year judged to be the UK’s Best Microbrewing Pub Company at the Publican Awards, has taken over the leasehold of the pub and helped fund and drive the refurb of the venue.
Together, the two firms plan to continue the pub’s appeal to football fans but are also introducing a new menu for local families and couples and a set of nine real ales.
One of the drinks – 1919 - is exclusive to the venue and is named after the year Leeds United was officially formed.
“The substantial investment at this iconic site has transformed The Old Peacock, giving the pub enormous potential to appeal to a much wider range of customers,” said Longbottom.
“It will satisfy demand from families, couples, groups of friends and of course football fans, whether they are looking for a quality meal or a pint of real ale, I am certain all will be wowed by what the pub has to offer,” he added.
Jamie Lawson, Ossett Brewery’s joint managing director, said: “Having the pub ready in time for the new season was always fundamental to this project but whilst The Old Peacock already holds a special place in many fans’ hearts, what we really want to achieve is to cement it as a pub for people who live and work in Leeds, as well as for the club.
“We are confident that our refurbishment will make for an even better atmosphere during the games, while also creating a relaxed, welcoming environment for anyone wanting to enjoy the best beers or the tastiest grub you can get in a pub on non-match days,” he added.
