Co-owner Neil Gatt said the company had the capacity to open six to ten sites a year and had a good pipeline for 2015, with a particular focus on the south of England.
Pesto hopes to re-open The Dicconson Arms in Appley Bridge outside Wigan in early 2015 after a £300,000 refurbishment.
This is the first deal the privately-owned Italian restaurant group has completed with Marston’s PLC and sees the further growth of the Pesto in a Pub concept.
Gatt said: “We’re very excited about this new opening and I hope it will lead to many more projects with Marston’s PLC.
“This marks a significant step in our long-term strategy for the brand and will be a very positive start to the new year for the company.”
Renovation
He said the renovation would transform the traditional pub into a more contemporary and relaxed 120 cover dining space with a bar, including the creation of a new full glazed facade, a new external dining terrace and open fires.
Gatt added: “We have the capacity to open 6-10 sites a year, but selecting the right sites is more important than the speed of growth. Competition for quality pub sites has grown significantly since we started out with the Pesto in a Pub strategy three years ago.
“We are now developing a nice pipeline for 2015 which should see us moving into new territories, particularly the South.”